Peachtree Bariatrics and Weight Loss Center Bariatric Surgery Patient Guide

Welcome to the Peachtree Bariatrics and Weight Loss Center. This digital manual is designed to guide you through every step of your surgical weight loss journey.

Important Note: This guide supports your care but does not replace direct instructions from your surgeon, anesthesia team, primary care physician, or emergency physician. Always follow the personalized medical advice provided by your clinical team.

You can read this manual from beginning to end, or use the chapter links to jump to specific topics like nutrition, recovery, or medication planning.

Your journey with us is structured to ensure your safety and long-term success:

• Initial Consultation: Meeting with your surgeon to discuss your goals, medical history, and determine the best procedure for you.
• Pre-operative Clearances: Completing required lab work, psychological evaluations, and nutritional counseling.
• Pre-op Diet Phase: A specialized diet (often starting 2 weeks before surgery) to shrink the liver and make surgery safer.
• Surgery Day: The procedure itself, usually performed laparoscopically or robotically.
• Post-op Recovery: A phased return to solid foods and physical activity.
• Long-Term Follow-Up: Ongoing support, lab monitoring, and lifestyle adjustments to maintain your results.

• Sleeve Gastrectomy: Approximately 80% of the stomach is removed, leaving a banana-sized "sleeve." This restricts food intake and reduces hunger hormones.
• Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: A small stomach pouch is created and connected directly to the small intestine, bypassing a portion of the digestive tract. This provides both restriction and decreased calorie absorption.
• Revision / Conversion Surgery: Modifying or correcting a previous bariatric procedure to address weight regain, inadequate weight loss, or complications like severe acid reflux.

Benefits: Bariatric surgery is highly effective for long-term weight loss and can resolve or improve conditions like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea.

Risks: As with any major surgery, risks include bleeding, infection, blood clots, and leaks from staple lines. Long-term risks include vitamin deficiencies and gallstones.

Emergency Warning Signs: Seek immediate medical attention if you experience chest pain, severe shortness of breath, fainting, severe abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, black or bloody stools, fever with worsening pain, or new calf pain/swelling.

Proper preparation is key to a safe procedure:

• Liver Shrinking Diet: You will be placed on a strict liquid or high-protein, low-carb diet prior to surgery to reduce the size of your liver.
• Fasting: Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your surgery unless explicitly instructed otherwise.
• Smoking and Alcohol: You must stop smoking and consuming alcohol well in advance of your surgery to reduce the risk of complications such as ulcers and poor wound healing.

If you are taking GLP-1 medications (such as Wegovy, Ozempic, Zepbound, or Mounjaro) or other weight-loss medications, special care is required before surgery.

These medications slow down stomach emptying. To prevent serious complications like aspiration (inhaling stomach contents) during anesthesia, you must pause these medications before your procedure.

Always follow the exact timeline provided by your surgeon and anesthesiologist regarding when to stop your specific medication.

What to Bring: Your photo ID, insurance card, and a list of your current medications. Wear loose, comfortable clothing and slip-on shoes. Leave all valuables and jewelry at home.

Discharge: Most patients go home the same day or the day after surgery. You must have a responsible adult drive you home. You will be provided with specific discharge instructions, prescriptions, and follow-up appointment details.

Keeping your incisions clean and dry is essential to prevent infection.

• You may shower 48 hours after surgery, letting warm, soapy water gently run over the incisions. Do not scrub them.
• Pat the incisions dry with a clean towel.
• Do not soak in a bathtub, hot tub, or swimming pool until your surgeon clears you (usually 3-4 weeks).
• Steri-strips or surgical glue will fall off on their own. Do not peel them off prematurely.

Your stomach will be much smaller and healing. Pill sizes and types of medications matter.

• Take medications in liquid or crushed form if directed by your team.
• Avoid NSAIDs: Medications like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), and aspirin should be avoided long-term as they can cause severe stomach ulcers. Use acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain.
• Resume your normal prescription medications only as instructed by your surgeon.

Hydration: Dehydration is the #1 reason for hospital readmission. Sip water constantly throughout the day. Goal: 64 oz daily. Do not drink with meals.

Nutrition Phases: You will progress through strict dietary phases: Clear Liquids, Full Liquids, Pureed/Soft Foods, and eventually Solid Foods. Never rush this progression.

Protein: Goal: 60-80 grams daily to preserve muscle mass and promote healing.

Vitamins: You must take bariatric-specific multivitamins, calcium citrate, iron, and B12 for the rest of your life to prevent severe nutritional deficiencies.

Bariatric surgery is a tool, not a cure. Long-term success requires lifelong commitment.

• Follow-Up Visits: Typically scheduled at 2 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and annually thereafter.
• Lab Work: Regular blood tests are critical to monitor your vitamin and mineral levels.
• Maintenance: Focus on protein first, stay hydrated, exercise regularly, and stay connected with our support team and dietitians.

Gallbladder Care: Rapid weight loss increases the risk of developing gallstones. In some cases, gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy) may be necessary.

Excess Skin: As you lose significant weight, you may experience loose or excess skin. Procedures such as panniculectomy or abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) can be considered to remove this tissue once your weight has stabilized, typically 12 to 18 months after surgery.

Education doesn't stop after surgery. We host regular webinars to support your ongoing journey, covering topics from nutrition strategies to overcoming weight loss plateaus.