Abdominal Surgery After Major Weight Loss

Preoperative Recommendations:

1) Please notify us within two days of the scheduled surgical procedure, in case of flu-like symptoms or malaise.

2) Present for admission at the scheduled hospital, on the scheduled time.

3) Avoid alcoholic beverages or copious meals on the day before surgery.

4) Stop taking any weight losing medications seven days before the scheduled surgical procedure. This also includes diuretics.

5) Please reschedule your social, domestic or school activities in such a way as to avoid being indispensable to others for a period of approximately 30 days.

6) Do not use oral or injectable contraceptives in the 30 days before surgery. During this period, please use another contraceptive method.

7) Avoid smoking at least during the 15 days preceding surgery.

8) Keep an 8 hours fasting interval before the scheduled time of the surgery.

9) Avoid any medication containing acetylsalicylic acid (i.e. aspirin) or any medication with anticoagulant effect, for at least 15 days before surgery. Please also avoid using anti-inflammatory drugs. Acetaminophen preparations may be used in case of pain.



Postoperative Recommendations:

1) Avoid making any physical effort for 30 days.

2) The dressing should be kept dry during the first phase (2 days).

3) Avoid exposure to sunlight for at least 8 weeks.

4) Walk with the trunk slightly bent and with short steps, for a period of 15 days. In bed, put pillows behind your back and under your knees, in order to relieve the tension on the abdomen.

5) Avoid smoking at least during the 15 days following surgery.

6) Avoid any medication containing acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin preparations in general) or any medication with anticoagulant effect, for at least 15 days following surgery.

7) In the case of extremely obese patients, a certain amount of yellowish fluid may be eliminated, after the 8th day, through one or more points of the surgical scar. Do not worry if this happens to you. This is the result of lipolysis, and does not represent any complication.

8) Normal diet (except in special situations).

9) Use an elastic bandage for at least one month and a half.