April 2021

10 Tips on What You'll Need as You Prepare for Bariatric Surgery

There's an old saying worth remembering as you approach surgery: the 5 P's - Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance.

Undergoing Weight Loss Surgery is a huge step. It can feel like the beginning of a whole new chapter, often carrying the promise of results you've been striving toward for a very long time. Alongside the excitement and positivity, it's completely normal to feel nerves, and to face a steep learning curve.

Your life is about to change significantly, and being well prepared is one of the biggest keys to your long-term success. Here are ten things worth getting sorted, practically, mentally, and in terms of your support and knowledge.

1. Start Getting Ready Now

Once you have a surgery date, there's no time like the present to start improving your eating habits and your health. Cull your cupboards and fridge of the foods that won't support your new goals, and think about what you'll put in their place.

2. Take the Pre-Op Diet Seriously

Your dietitian will set the guidelines for your pre-op diet. This phase is designed to make surgery safer by reducing the size of your liver, so it genuinely matters. Stock up on the good-quality meal replacements and fresh foods you'll need to follow the plan your team sets out.

3. Follow Your Safety Recommendations

Your surgeon will advise on any extra steps needed to make sure you're safe to operate on. Smoking, in particular, is worth addressing early, it can slow recovery, impair healing, and increase surgical risks, and some surgeons will decline to operate if you've been smoking in the lead-up. Always follow your surgeon's specific guidance here.

4. Get Nutritionally Fit

Being in the best nutritional shape before surgery helps reduce complications. Ask your team whether any of your nutrient levels are on the low side so you can work on correcting them beforehand. Many patients preparing for surgery are low in vitamin D, iron, B12 and calcium, and topping these up in advance supports both your recovery and your overall health.

5. Get Organised at Home

Making sure you will be stress free after you get home is key.

A stress-free recovery starts with preparation. Stock up on everything you'll need for the liquid and purée stages, and make sure you have enough protein on hand to meet your daily targets. Clean the house and prep everything you'll need post-op before you go to hospital, because it all needs to be in place from day one.

The free recipe e-books in the Bariatric Recipes section of our website are a great source of ideas for the early stages.

6. Pack your hospital bag

Prepare for one extra night just in case, and follow your surgeon's guide on what to bring.

7. Look After Your Mindset

Consider working with a counsellor or psychologist who specialises in weight management. They can help you form new habits, explore any emotional links to food, and build the tools you'll need to cope with a big change.

8. Build Your Support Team

Make sure you have friends and family around you who understand what the surgery involves, and what you might need, both physically and emotionally, in the weeks ahead.

9. Plan some Downtime

From the outside, bariatric surgery might not look like much; but it's major surgery, and combined with limited food intake, you'll be tired. Plan some time off work, and line up extra hands at home if your household is a busy one.

10. Practice putting yourself first

You've taken a brave, bold step toward a healthier, happier life, so this is your time to focus on getting the best and safest results. Consider easing back on your commitments to others for a while after you get home, so you can concentrate on learning your new way of eating, thinking and being. It's a lot to work through, and you deserve the space to do it well.

Preparing for bariatric surgery is, of course, more than a ten-step process, but we hope this gives you a helpful sense of what to expect, and how to set yourself up for long-term success.

Jacqui Lewis
BHSc Nutritional and Dietetic Medicine