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      Preparing For Surgery
      Preparing For Surgery. Every patient having weight loss surgery on our programme will be seen by a physician. The 3 eating pahses for weight loss surgery. Post Operative and Pre Operative diet plans for lap band surgery and other bariatric surgeries. Melbourne Bariatrics - Penninsula 03 9770 7189

      Preparing for Surgery

      Initial consultation with the Surgeon

      The surgeon and patient discuss the patient’s weight and health history to assess the patient’s fitness for surgery, what operation might suit best, and any issues that need to be addressed. Patients will often have an idea of what operation that would suit them, and usually the surgeon will agree, but sometimes this needs to be discussed further until both are happy with the choice. If at the end of the initial consultation the right operation has not been decided upon, this doesn’t really matter because the patient has plenty of time to go away think about it, talk to family and friends, and can then make a final decision when they are ready. The surgeon refers on for appropriate tests, to see a physician, psychologist and dietitian.

      Dietitian

      Lamb Cutlets

      All patients will see the dietitian at least 3 times. Firstly, just before starting the preoperative weight loss, secondly around the day of the surgery and thirdly around the time of an eating phase transition. Many people choose to see the dietitian more than this.

      The dietitian will go through your current eating habits, likes and dislikes, food intolerances, medical history etc. And come up with an eating plan that suits you and your chosen operation They will also give you tips on healthy food choices and general food education.

      Those patients who have bypass surgery will require long term nutritional monitoring with the dietitian

      Physician

      Every patient having weight loss surgery on our programme will be seen by a physician. If you have a physician that you already see that is involved with our programme they will be the physicians you see. This doctor will assess your fitness for surgery and plan how to mange your care in the peri-operative period. Eg what to do about your insulin, your asthma medication etc. They will also see you on the operation day and make sure everything is ok and adjust your medication and treatment as required.

      Psychologist

      Having a weight problem, trying to do something about it, succeeding with your weight problem, failing…these are all emotionally challenging times. Sometimes, the emotional side of a weight problem and weight loss surgery is quite overwhelming. You might like to involve a psychologist from the start. You could discuss this with your Gp to help you find a suitable clinical psychologist.

      PreAdmission Clinic

      This is where all the paperwork that the hospital requires and the various tests that have been done are collected together and the nursing side of the process is done. It is done to prevent there being any unexpected problems on the day of surgery. The hospital nurse will call you and do this with you over the phone,  or sometimes might need to ask you to come to the hospital.

      Final Consultation with the Surgeon

      The surgeon and patient confirm which operation is most suitable, ask any questions, review the results of the tests etc and discuss the operation in detail including the risks and limitations of the surgery.

       

      Three Eating Phases

       

      1. Pre Operative Eating Phase

      Obesity increases the risks of surgery

      More dangerous
      More difficult for the patient, surgeon, anaesthetist, nurses etc
      Any obese person having surgery should consider weight loss beforehand.

      Weight loss prior to surgery improves the body’s ability to cope with surgery

      Especially for people with Sleep apnoea, diabetes, poor cardiac function, poor lung function
      Makes surgery easier and safer
      Less fat around the stomach and liver
      Quicker
      Less anaesthetic…
      Less dangerous
      Better and easier recovery

      BE Fit Food Be Rapid Programme

      People lose about 10 to 15% of excess weight or 5 to 20kg
      For 2 to 6 weeks prior to surgery
      Dietitian, Optifast, frequent monitoring, exercise programming and physician

      Optifast

      Shrinks the liver and fat around the stomach
      Very Low Calorie Diet (VLCD)
      Preserves lean muscle mass
      Suppresses hunger
      Range of products
      Additional food allowed

       

      2. Post Operative Eating Phase

      Liquids for 2 weeks

      Anything that could go up a straw is all you can have for the first 2 weeks after the surgery. This allows the stomach to heal and the sutures to get their full strength. If you need to vomit in these first 2 weeks it would be quite distressing if there was solid food involved especially if it got stuck. Weight loss surgery often results in most people not feeling hungry and so patients don’t mind this phase as much as they think they are going to. So the liquid phase is about safety, giving the stomach a chance to heal and making vomiting more bearable, and is not as bad as it sounds.

      Transition back to solids over 4 weeks

      Mushy foods are all that is allowed for another 4 weeks. This gives the stomach more time to heal. And food is reintroduced gradually, so by the time you are back to eating red meat you have chosen softer, easier to eat foods already and you know it is going to go down fine.

      The dietitian will take you through what is involved with each of these. And you will be given written instructions including lists of foods and drinks that are allowed. You will also see the dietitian each time there is a eating phase changes over, just to make sure everything goes to plan.

       

      3. The Rest of Your Life

      Healthy eating and the rest of your life

      Educate yourself about food
      Make smarter food choices
      Calorie dense vs nutrient dense

      We live in a an obesogenic society

      Plate sizes, advertising, encouraged…

      Take time out to eat

      20 minutes per meal, 3 small meals
      Chew thoroughly
      Eat slowly

      Please Contact Melbourne Bariatrics on  03  9770  7189  for more information or to make an appointment
      Risks, Costs & Questions
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      Mr Geoff Draper
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      Gastric Bands
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      Sleeve Gastrectomy
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      Which operation is best for me?
      Learn more
      Melbourne Bariatrics
      Questions
      1
      Cost
      How much does it cost?
      Basically, at Melbourne Bariatrics Peninsula, a Gap fee for most bariatric surgery applies. The gaps fees for a Sleeve are $6400. Revision surgery fees vary.
      Learn more
      2
      Payment Options
      A range of payment plans are available.
      These include standard payment through Private Health Cover, No gap covered by Supported Health, Self funded and Using your Superannuation.
      Learn more
      3
      Choosing
      Which operation you choose should be the safest operation that suits you. In a nutshell, Bands are the safest, Sleeves have the most natural eating style, & Bypasses achieve the greatest weight loss. They are all done laparoscopically (keyhole).
      Learn more
      • Find Us
        Peninsula Private Hospital
        Suite 7, 525 McClelland Drive,
        Frankston VIC 3199
        03 9770 7189
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      • Information
        • Which Operation is Best For Me?
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