Pre-Surgical Instructions for Gastric Sleeve Patients
The team at our bariatric surgery center always wants to make sure that patients are well taken care of and looked after. That means ensuring that they get the care they deserve. Great treatment actually begins from the consultation phase and does not end until the patient is fully recovered.
We'd like to take this opportunity to focus on the pre-op instructions for gastric sleeve surgery. Below are some general guidelines. More specific and detailed information will be supplied during your consultation at our practice.
Why are pre-op instructions so important?
In essence, healing begins before the surgery is even performed. These pre-operative instructions are ways in which we are able to ensure ideal conditions for healing following the actual gastric sleeve procedure.
Weeks Before Surgery: Quit Smoking and Refrain from Alcohol Consumption
Drinking and smoking both have a negative impact on your body's ability to heal. In the weeks before you undergo a gastric sleeve or any surgical weight loss procedure, you will be asked to quit smoking and to limit your alcohol intake. This helps improve your body's ability to recover quickly after the surgery has been performed.
Two Weeks Before Surgery: Changing to a Liquid Diet
Before patients undergo bariatric surgery, they will begin an all-liquid diet or a predominantly liquid diet as instructed by their surgeon. This helps get patients used to the diet they will have following surgery and allows for ideal conditions to perform the gastric sleeve surgery. In general, this means drinking water and having protein shakes/nutritional supplement beverages. Be sure to follow these dietary guidelines to the letter.
One Week Before Surgery: Stop Taking Blood Thinner Medications
Major healing is required after a bariatric procedure. One precaution to prevent major blood loss during surgery or during recovery is to avoid taking any blood thinners a week prior to the operation date.
The Day Before Surgery: Come with An Empty Stomach
Patients should not eat any foods after midnight the day before their gastric sleeve surgery. This is to make sure that the surgical procedure goes as smoothly as possible and there are no complications that occur while it is being performed.
The Day of Surgery: Relax and Come to the Practice Feeling Calm
Before you are driven to the full-service, state-of-the-art hospital for your gastric sleeve surgery, you should relax and dress accordingly. That means loose-fitting clothes that are comfortable, and no makeup or jewelry worn. Rest assured that you are in good hands and think positively about the major difference you are making in your life.
Monitoring and Aiding You When You Are Here for the Surgery
In order to assist patients who come to our Tijuana practice for their bariatric surgery, we will do everything we can to make sure our patients feel at ease and comfortable. We have our own private driver who is bilingual and who will pick you up from the airport when you arrive. Accommodations are made at a hotel for you. You will work closely with our team as well as a surgical coordinator to make sure that your needs are met and that all of your concerns before and after surgery can be addressed. We want to make sure that your entire experience from beginning to end is as comfortable and stress-free as possible.
Learn More About Bariatric Surgery Treatments
If you would like to learn more about bariatric surgery and your many options available for advanced surgical weight loss, be sure to contact our Tijuana weight loss surgery center today. Our entire team looks forward to meeting you in person and helping you achieve a more ideal body mass through bariatric surgery.
