There are a number of different types of surgery used to achieve weight loss. The term “weight loss surgery” may refer to procedures like gastric bypass, gastric banding or gastric sleeve. In all cases, the size of the intestine, stomach or both will be reduced. For example, the sleeve gastrectomy San Antonio clinics offer reduces the capacity of a large section of the stomach. If you are considering weight loss surgery, it’s important you know what it’s all about. In order to be considered a candidate for weight loss surgery, you may need to alter your lifestyle to ensure that you are active, have a healthy diet and abstain from vises or bad habits. Our experts at BMI of Texas have outlined some of the major changes you may experience on your surgical weight loss journey.
Preparing for Weight Loss Surgery
Prior to your weight loss surgery, your doctor will require that you change your eating habits. To that end, he or she may provide you with a modified meal plan and suggest that you consult a nutritionist to assist you with dietary changes. Weight loss surgeons often recommend that their patients alter their diet two or more weeks before undergoing surgery. Changing your eating habits has several benefits including:
• Preparing your body to undergo and recover from surgery. For example, reducing the liver’s size and the fat around it may make the procedure less risky for you. Decreasing the size of the liver can also shorten the length of time it takes to perform the surgery. Note that if your liver is too large, your surgeon may opt to postpone the procedure.
• Helping to make the post-surgery life transition easier. You get to practice the new, healthier eating habits that you should adopt after your weight loss surgery in order to maintain your results.
• By increasing your intake of protein and eating leaner cuts of meat, along with eggs and soy, you will help promote post- surgery muscle preservation.
In addition to changing your eating habits, your physician may have additional pre-operation requirements, including but not limited to the regular consumption of necessary vitamins, visiting with a dietitian and completing a psychiatric evaluation. These requirements, along with others, are crucial in helping to lessen the risk of your weight loss surgery.
What Will Your Pre-Op Diet Look Like?
Most pre-op meal plans have general guidelines in common. The specialist at BMI of Texas utilize a standard pre-op diet that allows for the consumption of two shakes a day with one small meal. Patients are also able to eat sugar free jello or popsicles. The recommended pre-surgery diet plan consists of 90 grams of daily protein with lower levels of saturated fats, calories and carbohydrates. Your weight loss surgeon may require that you go on a liquid diet and reduce your calorie intake to between 800 and 1,200 calories per day. It may also be recommended that you start taking vitamin supplements to ensure that your body is supplied with the right nutrients for optimal recovery.
What to Expect
If you are accustomed to ingesting more than 3,000 calories per day, you may find yourself suffering from headaches and feeling irritable when starting your pre-op diet. For most patients, these issues will subside after a few days as the body adjusts. Remember, it is important to undergo this part of the process. Having a support system in place can help you adapt to a new way of eating. Tell your family about your surgery so they can provide encouragement and emotional support both before and after the procedure.
While dietary changes are necessary prior to surgery, you should not start a pre-op diet plan without the guidance and approval of your doctor. The best weight loss doctors San Antonio has available suggest that along with dietary changes, you should also add exercise to your daily routine. Exercise will improve your health and enable your body to better withstand the stresses of an operation.
Sources
http://www.medic8.com/obesity-surgery/gastric-band-before.html
http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmcsd/Patients/Documents/bariatric_form_nutritionrec.pdf
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