After scheduling weight loss surgery, patients often have questions and concerns about the impending procedure. Your team of healthcare providers will give you specific instructions on what to do to prepare for the operation. Carefully follow your doctor’s recommendations to minimize the risk of complications and ensure you get the best possible results.
Lose weight
To lose weight after surgery, you will need a strong determination to stop unhealthy eating habits. Many doctors recommend that patients lose a few pounds before surgery. This directive can be an effective way for healthcare providers to gauge overall commitment to a lifestyle change that will result in better health. Your doctor may suggest that you lose 15 to 30 pounds before scheduling your procedure. People who lose weight before the operation often lose more during the postoperative period. Losing weight before the procedure often shortens the time you’ll spend in the operating room, also because surgeons can more easily perform the procedure. Losing weight also reduces the risk of complications.
Give up smoking
Doctors will urge smokers to quit before surgery. Cigarette smoking not only causes serious long-term health problems, such as emphysema and cancer, but also makes complications more likely to occur. Patients who smoke are more likely to develop pneumonia after undergoing an operation.
improve diet
Health care providers generally refer patients to a nutritionist for dietary advice. You’ll learn how to choose healthier foods, eat smaller portions, and take your time eating. Making changes to your diet before the procedure can make it easier to adjust to a healthier diet after the procedure.
Psychological evaluation
Overeating and compulsive eating usually leads to obesity. People who engage in these behaviors often have psychological problems related to them. To make permanent and positive dietary changes, you may need to explore what led you to overeat in the first place. If you do not understand and resolve these psychological issues, you may not be able to overcome the behaviors after surgery. A psychological evaluation can help you learn what is motivating your behavior so you can make positive changes.
Seminars and Support
Many surgeons offer seminars designed to educate patients on what to expect from weight loss surgery. Attend these seminars to learn your options and be ready for typical problems. Your doctor may also provide opportunities to participate in support groups with other patients. Sometimes seminars and other educational opportunities are required to get prior approval from the surgeon and insurance plans.
learning about liquids
After weight loss surgery, you will have strict rules about fluid intake with meals. You will not be able to have drinks until at least an hour after finishing a meal. If you drink with a meal, the liquids can cause the food to move through your stomach too quickly, which can lead to excessive hunger. Drinking can also overfill your stomach, causing malnutrition or dehydration from not eating and drinking properly. So, learn the rules about liquids and start getting used to waiting to drink after meals.
Follow the recommendations for weight loss surgery to ensure your recovery is quick and successful.