Why is the Gastric Sleeve Pre Operative Diet Important? Is one the most Frequently Asked Questions I get from patients considering Gastric Sleeve Surgery. The answer it’s a resounding Yes, gastric sleeve pre operative diet is very important. Preoperative gastric sleeve diet is as important as the postoperative diet for various reasons. And the main reason is the patient safety.

The main purpose of the preoperative diet is to reduce the size of the liver, reducing liver size diminishes the risk of complications associated with Gastric Sleeve Surgery. The liver is a large, meaty organ that sits on the right side of the belly. Weighing about 3 pounds, If you have a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 35, your liver is likely to be particularly large due to additional stores of glycogen (storage form of carbohydrate), water and fatty deposits. This can make Gastric Sleeve Surgery technically more difficult, therefore the risk of surgery related complications is higher.  Following The Preoperative Gastric Sleeve Diet  will reduce the amount of glycogen, water and fatty deposits in the patient’s liver, reducing the overall size of the liver.  This will allow us to safely move aside the liver,  during the surgery. For the Preoperative Gastric Sleeve Diet to be successful, it is important that the patient strictly adhere to it for the full period of time specified by the Bariatric Nutriologist.

Some patients have the temptation to get a special  dinner before surgery. Succumbing to this tempation makes the surgery technically more difficult for us and increases the risk of surgery related complications. We must consider that  Gastric Sleeve Surgery is a starting point for a new life, and the success of the surgery depends not only on the anatomical change in the stomach, but also on the patient’s changes in their lifestyle.  Bariatric Surgery is a great tool and helps a large number of people overcome obesity. But it is not magic and before entering the Operating Room the patient must be aware of the responsibility involved and the required lifestyle changes in order to start a newer and healthier version of themselves.

Written by Alberto Carlos, MD