Preparation

Examinations

Before weight loss surgery, you will need to have certain investigations to ensure that the procedure is safe and suitable for you. These assessments include:

• Physical assessment: The physical assessment is intended to assess your medical history and identify factors that can cause complications to weight loss surgery. The examinations include blood tests, chest X-rays, electrocardiograph (ECG) to determine the electrical activity of your heart, spirometer to check your breathing pattern and ultrasound scan to detect the presence of gallstones and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
• Psychological assessment: The psychological assessment is carried out to assess your general mental health status and to assess for any emotional problems that could hinder the success of your. These may include conditions and emotional problems that prevent you from following a healthy lifestyle after surgery, and unhealthy patterns of eating that could lead to problems following surgery.
• Nutritional assessment: The nutritional assessment is carried out to assess the history of your diet, eating patterns and its effect on your obesity, and your awareness on the changes in diet and lifestyle you will have to follow after surgery. It helps your dietician to plan the post-surgery dietary commitments for you.

Recommendations

Your doctor will get detailed information about your symptoms, and history of your current and past ailments. He/she will perform a thorough physical examination and may order certain diagnostic tests such as blood tests or imaging tests to confirm your disease. After reviewing these results, your doctor will recommend appropriate treatment.

It’s not uncommon to have questions or doubts, which we will encourage you to clarify before you leave the clinic. Your doctor will take time to explain your options for treatment and our administrative staff will go through the details of costs and logistics with you. Our aim is to provide you with all the information that you would need to make informed decisions about managing your health. If you still have questions when you leave the office, please do not hesitate to contact us - we are here to help.

Diet and Medication

Your dietician may recommend a strict calorie-controlled diet for two weeks before weight loss surgery. The diet aids in shrinking the liver so that your surgeon can easily push it to the side in order to access the stomach. This is required for a minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery. Reducing a moderate amount of weight before surgery can also decrease surgical complications. The pre-operative diet includes:

• Food low in carbohydrates and fats
• Drinking at least 2 litres of fluid a day
• Avoiding alcohol
• Taking mineral and multivitamin supplements
• Intake of food at regular intervals (spread throughout the day)

If you are diabetic, you need to reduce your medication as suggested by your doctor. Your surgeon will also give you clear instructions as to the medications that you can/should take and those you should avoid.