For people who are overweight or obese, bariatric surgery is the procedure that can help shed off those extra pounds instantly. This is a major operation that requires considerable changes in the lifestyle of the patient. Three to six months before the procedure, patients should start preparing for bariatric surgery.
If you wish to undergo bariatric surgery, a physical examination will help ensure that your body adequately fits the operation. But the only necessity is not physical health. The emotional state is just as crucial to a successful surgery and the resulting weight loss.
The more adjustments you make before surgery, the smoother the process and the better results you’ll achieve.
You need to take many necessary steps to prepare for weight loss (bariatric) operation, and your dedication to lifestyle change immediately begins before the surgery itself.
When you intend to have bariatric surgery in Dubai, learn how to prepare better to be ready mentally and physically, and achieve your desired result.
1. Read And Understand The Clinic’s Resources And Materials
Read books or visit blogs related to the surgery, join a support group, and discuss the treatments, potential risks, and lifestyle changes with others who have previously had the surgery.
2. Have A Support System
It’s essential to have support if you’re thinking about undergoing surgery.
To help you set long-term goals, consult with your primary care physician or a family member or friend. Appoint someone to help track the progress of your weight loss and keep you encouraged.
3. Start Making Dietary Changes
Try eating three regular meals and one to two small snacks daily. Be sure to include breakfast when planning meals and try not to eat within five hours of bedtime.
Increase your protein consumption, fresh fruits, and vegetables while dramatically reducing sugar and high-fat foods and fast-food meals from your diet.
Reduce your daily calories to 1200-1500 calories (or within a range discussed with your physician). Eliminate caffeinated drinks from your diet about a month before surgery.
4. Acknowledge And Cope With Food Addiction
If you’re addicted to food, you’ll have to deal with that before surgery.
Start thinking about food as your body’s vital fuel and be mindful of how your body adapts to your diet. Increase awareness of external feeding cues as well as indications of satiation or fullness.
Be mindful of how and what you eat. Avoid eating while being distracted. Focus on your food, carefully chew, taste the flavors, and savor your meal slowly. Try to reduce or avoid using food to cope with boredom, anxiety, sadness, fatigue, etc.
5. Don’t Compete With Others.
Each of us has our narrative and challenges, and we each have our ways of resolving these personal struggles. Bear in mind that people lose weight at different paces and in different ways.
Anyone who starts heavier will lose more weight. Stay focused on what you have control over and do your best with what you have.
6. Talk To Your Doctor About The Medications You Need.
You should clarify any medication that you’ll have to take before you undergo surgery. Check with your doctor about the prescriptions that are safe to take and which ones you should avoid before the procedure.
7. Track your food intake.
You may need to monitor your everyday eating habits through your physician, nutritionist, or dietician. This can help in many ways. Tracking your food can help you identify your problematic eating patterns.
Documenting your eating and drinking patterns will provide useful information and help you improve your diet to achieve your health and weight loss goals.
8. Avoid smoking.
If you’re a smoker, you should start quitting prior to having bariatric surgery in Dubai. Tobacco products are said to increase the likelihood of bariatric surgery-related complications.
Smoking can lead to post-operative diseases such as pneumonia and slow tissue regeneration with an increased risk of surgery-related complications.
Several programs require you to stop smoking a couple of months before the pre-operative steps begin. If you’re a smoker, talk to your doctor about stopping and the timeframe for your procedure.
9. Keep yourself accountable.
People who have effectively lost weight monitor anything – food or calories, liquid intake, weight, steps, and workouts. Some weigh or measure all their food or feed from the same plate and bowl. It will significantly help you if you keep yourself accountable and keep track of your progress.
10. Commit not to gain extra weight.
While preparing for surgery, it is best not to gain any additional weight. Stop midnight snacking or waiting until after the surgery to make the necessary diet and lifestyle changes. Your medical provider team will discuss with you specific strategies for weight loss before the surgery.
IMH offers different gastrointestinal surgeries, including pancreatic & splenic surgery, colorectal surgery, gastric surgery, and bariatric surgery, among others.
If you plan to undergo bariatric surgery to help you with your weight loss journey, contact us to help you prepare for bariatric surgery in Dubai and help with these special arrangements.