Bariatric Surgery

Top 9 Tips to Prepare for a Bariatric Surgery

February 8, 2025
8 min read
Dr. Kapil Agrawal - Senior Consultant at Apollo Group of Hospitals
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Key Takeaways

Learn essential tips to prepare for bariatric surgery. Get guidance on diet changes, exercise, mental preparation, family support, and recovery planning for a successful weight loss surgery journey.

Top 9 Tips to Prepare for a Bariatric Surgery

Getting surgery is not as it may sound. The person needs to be mentally prepared for getting surgery. It is vital to get mentally prepared for bariatric surgery if you want to gain a healthier weight.

Losing weight is no less than a battle especially when you know that the results are minimal. However, if you are going for a best bariatric surgery in Delhi ncr the efforts do not go in vain. There are several preparations that need to be done before you get bariatric surgery. The surgery will ease your journey for weight loss.

What is Bariatric Surgery?

The surgical procedure of making changes in the digestive system of a person that assists them in reducing weight is known as bariatric surgery. It includes other surgical procedures as well like gastric bypass and other weight loss surgeries. Bariatric surgery is suitable for those for whom diet and exercise has not been effective.

Types of Bariatric Surgery

All the bariatric surgeries work in different manners, one might reduce the ability of the body to absorb the nutrients gained, while the other process may restrict the quantity of food that the stomach can hold. The most common types of bariatric surgery are adjustable gastric band, sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass and duodenal switch.

Common types include:

  • Adjustable Gastric Band - Restricts food intake by placing a band around the stomach
  • Sleeve Gastrectomy - Removes a portion of the stomach to reduce its size
  • Gastric Bypass - Creates a small stomach pouch and reroutes the small intestine
  • Duodenal Switch - Combines restriction and malabsorption techniques

Why you Might Need a Bariatric Surgery?

The best bariatric surgery in Delhi is done in order to help the patients who might get life threatening health issues like heart diseases, high blood pressure, strokes, sleep apnea etc., due to their being overweight. The procedure helps them to reduce weight and thus chances of serious health problems are minimal.

Health conditions that may benefit from bariatric surgery:

  • Heart diseases
  • High blood pressure
  • Strokes
  • Sleep apnea
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Joint problems
  • Fatty liver disease

Read More: Life After Bariatric Surgery

9 Tips of Preparing for Bariatric Surgery

Before undergoing bariatric surgery, certain essential steps can help ensure a smoother procedure and faster recovery. Here are 9 important tips to help you get ready.

1. Change Your Diet Before Surgery

Some serious lifestyle changes are required if you want to make bariatric surgery a success and get rid of the unhealthy weight off your body. In Spite of instilling these changes after the surgery you can practise your new diet plans before the bariatric surgery. You can reduce the amount of carbohydrates intake, increase the proteins and vitamins, minerals, fibres as a part of your diet. Rest you are assured that our best bariatric surgeon in Delhi will take care of the nutritional needs.

Pre-surgery diet tips:

  • Reduce carbohydrate intake
  • Increase protein consumption
  • Include vitamins and minerals
  • Add more fiber to your diet
  • Follow your surgeon's nutritional guidelines

2. Start Practicing Mild Exercises

Getting up your body, that is starting with some regular exercises before the bariatric surgery will help you in several ways. It helps you to reduce some of the excess weight before the surgery. Additionally, it will improve the health of your heart that is extremely important before you go for any type of bariatric surgery.

Benefits of pre-surgery exercise:

  • Reduces excess weight before surgery
  • Improves heart health
  • Enhances recovery post-surgery
  • Builds strength and stamina
  • Improves overall fitness

Recommended activities:

  • Walking
  • Swimming
  • Light cardio exercises
  • Stretching
  • Low-impact activities

3. Maintain Your Health

It is vital for the patient to remain healthy and prevent them from getting any type of disease or infections. Any infection to the patient might lead to delay in the surgery. So, it is advised to keep the heat up to date.

Health maintenance tips:

  • Get all recommended vaccinations
  • Avoid exposure to sick individuals
  • Practice good hygiene
  • Follow your doctor's health recommendations
  • Keep medical appointments

4. Prepare Yourself

It is very essential that the patient understands the mental requirements of what drastic changes are going to be there in life after going through bariatric surgery. Many of the things will change, like you might need to reframe your social outings, boundation on eating several types of things etc. So, you have to prepare yourself mentally for such changes.

Mental preparation includes:

  • Understanding lifestyle changes
  • Adjusting social expectations
  • Accepting dietary restrictions
  • Setting realistic goals
  • Preparing for emotional challenges
  • Learning about post-surgery life

5. Family Support is Necessary

It is always helpful if you support the system with you while you are undergoing through any crucial steps of your life. Do not only prepare yourself for the bariatric surgery but also make your family and friends understand prior what changes are going to happen after the surgery. They always provide critical support and suggestions which is vital.

How to involve family:

  • Educate them about the surgery
  • Explain expected lifestyle changes
  • Discuss dietary modifications
  • Share recovery timeline
  • Ask for their support and understanding
  • Include them in pre-surgery consultations

6. Safety Recommendations

It is important to ensure that you are safe before any surgery. The sun goes will recommend a number of safety tips that you need to follow for a healthy and successful bariatric surgery. One of the most essential things to skip is smoking because it hampers the healing process after the surgery.

Safety recommendations:

  • Quit smoking - Smoking hampers healing and increases complications
  • Follow pre-surgery instructions carefully
  • Inform your surgeon about all medications
  • Complete all required medical tests
  • Follow fasting instructions before surgery
  • Arrange transportation for surgery day

7. Prevent Yourself From Dehydration

One of the most common postoperative complications that occur is dehydration. It is not required that you drink a large quantity of fluids at one go. But it is necessary to sip all day after every hour. Post bariatric surgery the stomach will be your new real estate that has to be taken care of well. Avoid drinking water during eating and get easy with your new diet schedule.

Hydration tips:

  • Sip fluids throughout the day
  • Drink small amounts frequently
  • Avoid large quantities at once
  • Don't drink during meals
  • Track your fluid intake
  • Choose hydrating beverages

Recommended fluids:

  • Water
  • Sugar-free beverages
  • Herbal teas
  • Clear broths
  • Electrolyte solutions (as recommended)

8. Keep Yourself Accountable

Successful weight losers are those who keep a track of their daily activities like calories and liquid intake of the day, amount of protein, number of steps, exercise routine and many other things. Also, some people eat a measurable quality each day to stay honest with themselves and easy tracking of the progress in their weight loss.

Tracking methods:

  • Daily calorie intake
  • Fluid consumption
  • Protein intake
  • Number of steps
  • Exercise routine
  • Meal portions
  • Weight progress
  • Body measurements

Tools for tracking:

  • Food diary or journal
  • Mobile apps
  • Fitness trackers
  • Weight scale
  • Measuring cups and scales

9. Analyse Your Recovery

Analyzing changes pre and post bariatric surgery can be really exciting as well as motivating. We cannot observe and feel the changes daily. For seeing the major changes, we need to look back to the point of the journey from where it started. Such changes are mentally rewarding.

Recovery analysis includes:

  • Documenting pre-surgery baseline
  • Tracking weekly progress
  • Taking progress photos
  • Measuring body changes
  • Noting health improvements
  • Celebrating milestones
  • Reflecting on the journey

What to track:

  • Weight loss progress
  • Body measurements
  • Energy levels
  • Health improvements
  • Dietary changes
  • Exercise capacity
  • Overall well-being

At the end all the preparations that you are going to do for the bariatric surgery will pay back. You will come out strong and healthy post-surgery. So just follow the instructions for the surgeons and enjoy the ride.

Why Choose Dr. Kapil Agrawal for Bariatric Surgery?

Choosing a bariatric surgeon is your personal decision, and finding someone you trust is not easy. With Dr. Kapil Agrawal the best bariatric surgeon in Delhi, you're in incredibly capable hands. His experience is evident not just in his successful outcomes, but in the way he guides his patients.

At Habilite Clinics, Dr. Kapil Agrawal and his team create a supportive environment. It's more than just a medical procedure; it's a partnership. Throughout the entire process, from pre-surgery questions to post-op recovery they treating you with the care.

Why choose us:

  • Experienced and skilled surgeon
  • Comprehensive pre-surgery preparation
  • Supportive team environment
  • Personalized care approach
  • Excellent post-operative support
  • Proven track record of success

Conclusion

It is to be kept in mind that bariatric surgery is not meant for everyone who is overweight. There are several criteria and medication procedures that are required to be met for getting a bariatric surgery. It is the last resort suggested to those for whom diet control and exercise are unsuccessful. So, get the best bariatric surgery in Delhi only after the consultation of the best bariatric surgeons in Delhi.

Key takeaways:

  • Proper preparation is essential for success
  • Mental preparation is as important as physical
  • Family support plays a crucial role
  • Follow all pre-surgery recommendations
  • Track your progress consistently
  • Choose an experienced surgeon
  • Maintain realistic expectations
D

Dr. Kapil Agrawal

Senior Consultant at Apollo Group of Hospitals

Published on 8 February 2025

About the Doctor

Dr. Kapil Agrawal

Dr. Kapil Agrawal

Senior Consultant - Laparoscopic & Robotic Surgeon

23+ years of Experience

Dr. Kapil Agrawal is a leading and one of the best Robotic and Laparoscopic Surgeon in Delhi, India. He has an overall experience of 23 years and has been working as a Senior Consultant Surgeon at Apollo Group of Hospitals, New Delhi, India. He is performing advanced laparoscopic and robotic surgeries for various conditions, which include Gallbladder stones, Hernia, Appendicitis, Rectal prolapse, and pseudo-pancreatic cyst.

Qualifications
  • MBBS - Institute of Medical Sciences, BHU, Varanasi
  • MS (Surgery) - Institute of Medical Sciences, BHU, Varanasi
  • MRCS (London, U.K) - Royal College of Surgeons, London
Specializations
Laparoscopic SurgeryRobotic SurgeryGallbladder SurgeryHernia Surgery
Connect with Dr. Kapil Agrawal

Why Choose Us

  • Best Outcomes with discharge within 24 hours.
  • High-quality standards with an almost zero percent rate of infection.
  • Best Post Operative Care with round-the-clock availability of team.
  • A team of dedicated nutritionists to make your recovery faster.
  • No hidden charges and fixed and transparent packages.
  • Complete network of cashless insurance available.
  • All paperwork is handled by an expert team to give you a hassle-free experience.
  • Tie up with various agencies to provide you with EMI options at zero rate of interest.
  • Dr Kapil Agrawal, senior consultant laparoscopic surgeon, affiliated with some of the best and finest hospitals in New Delhi.

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Dr. Kapil Agrawal

Consult with Dr. Kapil Agrawal - Senior Consultant - Laparoscopic & Robotic Surgeon at Apollo Hospitals, Delhi NCR. 23+ years experience and 7000+ advanced procedures with enhanced recovery care.

Gallbladder SurgeryCBD Stones RemovalGallbladder PolypsHernia SurgeryAppendix SurgeryGERD & Hiatus HerniaRectal Prolapse Surgery

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