are you supposed to be hungry during the first few weeks after surgery?

Christa, the usual experience is that in the very first week or so there's not a lot of hunger. But then--and this varies a lot from person to person--the swelling goes down and healing is proceeding, and people's appetites return. This is, for many people, the most difficult time if it happens before they've progressed from liquids on to more substantial foods.

The band can't work to dim your appetite until it is adjusted. So you'll likely feel perfectly normal (whatever that means for you), once the healing has moved along well. Managing your hunger at this time is important, particularly if you have not yet been given the go-ahead to eat solid food. Eating solids before you're completely healed is not smart, because the stomach work harder to move solids along. So no matter how hungry you are, it's best to stick with liquids as long as your doctor has told you to.

Everyone's experience varies. But the short answer to your question is if you're hungry, eat (or drink) something. You're not "supposed" to be hungry. But the simple act of placing a band doesn't automatically turn off your physiological hunger signals, no.