Diet and Weight Loss Weight Loss Surgery

Ask Your Doctor Discussion Guide: Preparing for Your Weight Loss Procedure

Ask Your Doctor Discussion Guide
Best for: pre-op consultation with surgeon

Pre-Operative Weight Loss Surgery Plan

What do I need to do weeks prior to my weight loss surgery?
Your surgeon and his or her staff will provide you with written instructions about what—and what not—to do in the weeks and days prior to your operation. The presurgery routine for bariatric operations is very similar to most other types of operations:

• If you smoke, you should stop at least two weeks prior to surgery. Smoking may decrease your lung capacity and delay the healing process after surgery.
• You will meet with a nutritionist or your surgeon, who will provide you with a detailed eating plan to follow at least a week prior to surgery.
• You should set aside time to shop and prepare some food and to obtain other household items you will need immediately after surgery.

What do I need to bring with me and prepare for the night before my surgery?

• On the day before the surgery, do not eat or drink anything after midnight, but do continue to take your prescription medications, with small sips of water, unless your surgeon instructs you to do otherwise.
• Take all of your medications with you to the hospital. If you have sleep apnea and use a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, bring it with you also.
• Bring casual, comfortable clothing that will be easy to take off and put on after surgery. Leave jewelry and other valuables at home.

How long will the surgical procedure take?
The amount of time required for the surgery will depend on the type of procedure you are having. In general, a more complicated procedure, such as gastric bypass, takes about two to three hours. An adjustable gastric band procedure requires much less time: typically about an hour. However, you may be in the operating room for two to three hours or possibly longer as the hospital staff may require more time to set up your operating room, administer anesthesia or prepare you for the procedure. If complications occur during surgery, the operation may take longer than anticipated, and more recovery time may also be required.

What will happen immediately after the surgery?
Your surgeon will check your progress to make sure you don’t have any immediate complications. He or she may have an X-ray taken right away or before you leave the hospital. As soon as possible after your surgery, the hospital staff will assist and encourage you to get up and start walking. The sooner you are up, the faster you will recover. You may initially experience nausea and/or vomiting, which are common side effects of anesthesia.

You may be given ice chips to start and then be allowed to start drinking small sips of water within a few hours of your operation.

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