Pre-Operative Liquid Diet Before Bariatric Surgery

Pre-Operative Liquid Diet Before Bariatric Surgery

Bariatric surgery provides individuals with morbid obesity weight loss help by restricting food intake. There are different types of surgeries, but all involve dividing the stomach to reduce the amount of food you can consume. Gastric bypass surgery is a major surgery and carries certain risks. Following the pre-operative diet recommended by your doctor helps reduce the surgical risk and shortens the recovery time, in addition to preparing for your new eating habits after surgery.

Basics of gastric bypass surgery

A common type of bariatric surgery is Roux en Y gastric bypass (RYGB) that not only reduces the size of your stomach, but also limits the Absorption of calories avoiding all the passage of food through the stomach, duodenum and upper intestine; Your new stomach connects directly with your small intestine. After surgery, your new stomach may just contain a few spoonfuls of food. Over time, your new stomach (or "bag") can stretch to allow you to consume more or less one cup of food at a time, still much less than the 4 cups that a normal stomach can hold. Still, to maintain your new weight you will need to exercise regularly and have healthy eating habits.

Diet before surgery

Most surgeons require that you follow a strict diet before surgery. Losing as much fat as possible, especially abdominal fat, decreases the surgical risk. Depending on the type of surgery that you practice, your pre-operative diet can start from three weeks or up to three months before surgery. It may be that your doctor does not need you to be on a liquid diet all the time, the most common is that the liquid diet should begin two weeks before your surgery. The diet is usually low in calories, between 800 and 1,200 calories a day. You should usually consume sugar-free drinks, low in carbohydrates and high in protein. Proteins help preserve lean muscle mass and help you recover better from surgery. Expect to consume between 70 and 120 grams of protein per day.

Following your pre-operative diet

Changing your diet before surgery prepares you physically and mentally for your new lifestyle after your operation. Your strength of will and ability to follow the recommendations made by the team to take care of your health and carry out the necessary changes in your diet and exercise routine will also help determine if gastric bypass surgery is right for you. Your doctor can postpone surgery if you do not make the necessary changes.Your diet before surgery also prepares you for the post-operative diet, which limits the consumption of carbohydrates, fats and sugar.

Non-liquid pre-operative diet

If you are allowed to start with a diet of solid foods to progress to a liquid diet, it is advisable not to drink alcoholic beverages, limit sugars, including soda, and consume of carbohydrates, especially refined grains and vegetables rich in starch, that you choose low-fat dairy products instead of whole ones, that you limit your consumption of saturated and trans fats from fried foods and that you avoid bingeing. If you smoke, it is advisable that you leave it. Your diet should consist of lean meats, seafood, eggs, vegetables, fruit and high fiber grains like oats in moderation. You may need to add a protein supplement to increase your protein intake without having to consume many calories.

Considerations

If you do not follow the pre-operative diet completely, notify your doctor immediately. Your surgeon may recommend postponing your surgery to decrease the surgical or anesthesia-related risks.

Video Tutorial: Your Pre-Op Diet - How to eat just before weight loss surgery..

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