Dietician

Your dietician may recommend a strict calorie-controlled diet for two weeks before weight loss surgery. The diet aids in shrinking the liver so that your surgeon can easily push it to the side in order to access the stomach. This is required for a minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery. Reducing a moderate amount of weight before surgery can also decrease surgical complications. The pre-operative diet includes:

• Food low in carbohydrates and fats
• Drinking at least 2 litres of fluid a day
• Avoiding alcohol
• Taking mineral and multivitamin supplements
• Intake of food at regular intervals (spread throughout the day)

If you are diabetic, you need to reduce your medication as suggested by your doctor. Your surgeon will also give you clear instructions as to the medications that you can/should take and those you should avoid.