The preoperative assessment
This takes place a few weeks before the planned date of surgery and you will meet all the people that are involved in your care. Apart from Mr Van den Bossche, you will also see:
- Dietician: Ms Rhoda Sutherland
- One of our anaesthetists
- Bariatric specialist nurse: Vanessa or Lizzy
The surgical consultation
Mr Van den Bossche will listen to your story and ask questions relating to your medical history, eating habits and the type of operation you are considering.
We will assess your medical and surgical history, your lifestyle and your eating habits to advise you which operation is best for you, which may not be the operation you had in mind.
We will explain the different operations in detail, including expected weight loss, and discuss potential complications.
The anaesthetic consultation
The anaesthetist will take a medical history and will carry out a thorough clinical examination. He may also request more technical investigations, such as a chest X-ray, an ECG and other more complex tests.
You will be told about
- The risks of general anaesthesia
- How you will be looked after during and after your operation
- The medications to stop prior to your operation and the ones you should continue to take
The consultation with the dietician
Dietician, Rhoda Sutherland will take the following measurements: height, weight and BMI, and calculate your body composition to tell us how much fat and lean muscle mass you have.
These measurements are taken at regular intervals after your operation to give a clear measurement of your progress.
Rhoda will discuss your eating habits and how to improve them and will explain to you the diet you will need to follow for two weeks prior to your operation.
The consultation with the bariatric nurse
Vanessa or Lizzy will explain all about your hospital admission and your stay in the hospital. They will look after you once you are back on the surgical ward after your operation. They will also do a routine blood test and do a test to make sure that you don’t have MRSA (a dangerous bug that can cause infections after operation).