Nutrition information
Our dietitians are here to support you before and after surgery. They will give you advice that is personal to you and based on the best medical knowledge. Their goal is to help you stay well and get the best results from surgery or weight loss medications.
Before bariatric surgery, you will meet with a dietitian. They will help you build healthy habits that set you up for success in the long run.
After surgery, your dietitian will be with you at every stage. They will check that you are getting enough protein, vitamins, and minerals while your body heals. They will also guide you as you learn new ways of eating and drinking. With their help, you can reach your goals in a safe and lasting way.
Multivitamins and supplements
After weight loss surgery, your body won’t absorb vitamins and minerals in quite the same way as before. This makes vitamin and mineral deficiencies more common. To help protect your health, it’s important to take a bariatric-strength multivitamin every day, for life. Think of it as a simple step that prevents problems before they start. Prevention is always easier than treatment.
Before gastric sleeve surgery
For two to six weeks before your surgery you are required to follow a low calorie diet. The programme followed is Optifast. Your dietitian and surgeon will advise on the amount of time you will need to follow this diet.
Why is it necessary to lose weight pre-surgery?
- To lower body fat levels for better access for the surgeon i.e. safer surgery
- To reduce the size of your liver which would otherwise be in the way
- Greater ability to adapt to post-operative dietary requirements
- Improved surgery outcomes
- Reduced operating time and post operative risks
- Improved physical function and mobility post-surgery
Your dietitian will guide you in choosing the multivitamin that best suits your needs. The commonly prescribed Mvite isn’t suitable after weight loss surgery, as it doesn’t contain all of the nutrients your body will now need.
If you’ve had a gastric bypass, you’ll also need additional calcium and vitamin D to help keep your bones strong and healthy.
When you leave hospital, you’ll be given thiamine (Vitamin B1) to take for the first three weeks. This gives your body an extra layer of support as you recover.
In the first two years after surgery, your team will keep a close eye on your blood tests and let you know if extra supplements are needed. After that, your GP will continue to check your levels with annual blood tests, so you can feel confident you’re staying on track for the long term.
Each surgical centre might do things a bit differently. Below is our pathway for the different dietary stages for weight loss (bariatric) surgery.
As a patient, you’ll be given direct access to our exclusive Patient Resource Centre where you’ll find clear advice and simple tips to guide you both before and after surgery.
