How to Prepare for Gastric Sleeve Surgery

Gastric sleeve surgery is a weight loss option for people with a large stomach. The surgeon performs the procedure by making an incision in the upper part of your stomach and then removing the small intestine, part of the stomach, and fat from the remaining portion of your stomach. During the gastric sleeve Frisco procedure, your surgeon reattaches this smaller stomach to a new opening in the upper part of your abdomen. As a result, you end up with a much smaller stomach that functions as a diet pill.

Gastric sleeve surgery does not require major surgery or hospitalization. You may be able to return home after surgery on the same day as your procedure, depending on where you live and how far your surgery center is away from your home. However, surgeons must perform several tests to determine if this type of procedure is safe for you. The tests you should expect your doctor to perform before gastric sleeve surgery include:

Blood tests

Blood tests are the most important test before gastric sleeve surgery. Your doctor will perform a blood test to determine if you have anemia or an iron deficiency. Anemia can occur for many reasons, including low levels of iron in your blood, high levels of anemia like low hemoglobin, or pregnancy. If you have anemia, your doctor may prescribe iron supplements or other medications to help increase your hemoglobin levels so you can become a candidate for this procedure.

Heart and lung test

A heart and lung test is also important before gastric sleeve surgery. This test helps determine if your heart and lungs are functioning properly and your blood pressure and other factors that can affect your chances of having a complication or death during surgery or recovery after surgery.

Electrocardiogram (ECG) test

Your doctor will also recommend an electrocardiogram (ECG) test to measure how fast your heart is beating and whether or not it is functioning properly. A standard ECG test will be performed before your surgery to ensure that you do not suffer from any heart problems before undergoing gastric sleeve surgery. If you have any prior history of heart disease, your surgeon may request an additional test to ensure that there are no underlying issues with your heart.

Diagnostic imaging

After performing the required blood tests, your surgeon will also perform diagnostic imaging on you. This imaging process involves taking X-rays and CT scans of your abdomen and chest area so that they can see how much fat there is in those areas and measure their thickness to ensure that they are suitable candidates for gastric sleeve surgery. The images during this process help surgeons determine how much weight can be removed from their bodies before it becomes too dangerous for them to operate on patients like yourself due to potential complications such as bleeding or infection in certain body regions.

Urinalysis

Your doctor performs a urinalysis to check for signs of infection or kidney disease that could become serious if left untreated. The results of this test can help your doctor determine if you will need antibiotics during recovery or if you need other medications after surgery.

Before getting gastric sleeve surgery, the first thing to do is meet with the doctor who will be performing the procedure. It will help ensure your safety and comfort during and after the procedure. If you are considering gastric sleeve surgery and want to learn more about the procedure, contact The Bariatric Experts.