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FAQ – Weight Loss Surgery..
- Do I need a referral from my doctor?
No, a doctor's referral is not necessary, however, it is very helpful
to have their support. We prefer where possible, to work with your doctor. This
can only benefit you in the long run. Should your doctor wish to know more about
our organization we would welcome a contact from them.
- What is my Body Mass
Index (BMI)?
Your Body Mass Idex determins your suitability for
surgery and which type of surgery you should have. It is an indication of how obese
you are. This measurement can vary and be one of the following categories:
- Normal body weight
- Danger of some health
risks
- Obese
- Morbidly Obese
- Am I suitable for obesity surgery?
Check your BMI below. This will normally indicate whether you are
suitable for obesity surgery. If you are in any doubt please complete the online
"call me" form one of our advisors
will call you back as soon as possible.
BMI Categories:
- Normal weight - BMI of 18-25
- Overweight - BMI of 25 - 30
- Obese - BMI of 30 or greater
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- Are there health risks with weight loss
surgery?
It is possible to suffer from gallstones after weight loss surgery.
If you have concerns about this or have experienced gall bladder problems in the
past, it is possible to remove the gallbladder during your surgery.
- Can I have my consultation in the UK?
All consultations take place in Belgium prior to your surgery taking
place. This enables the consultant surgeon to undertake a full clinical assessment
prior to your surgery.
- Will smoking affect my surgery?
You are encouraged to stop smoking at least one month before surgery.
- Will I have the opportunity to ask questions?
Yes of course. You will meet with the surgeon and a nutritionist the
day before surgery. You will find that the surgeon is quite open to answering all
of your questions.
- Can my partner attend the consultation?
Yes, they are welcome to attend.
- Can I have my surgery even though I’m
on medication?
Please ensure that we are informed of any medical conditions associated
with excess weight, such as Diabetes II or heart problems. You will need to stop
taking any medication for thinning the blood such as Coumadin, Aspirin or Warfarin,
10 days before travelling. If you take any of these medications are unsure or unclear
about this, please contact us.
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- How will it affect contraception?
Following gastric bypass surgery the body may absorb fewer hormones
thus making the contraceptive less effective. Weight loss surgery will make you
both more attractive and fertile.
- Will I be able to have IVF treatment
afterwards?
Yes there is no reason why not but keep in contact with the aftercare
program. Please be aware that after treatment you will become more fertile in any
case and pregnancy may occur without the need for IVF.
- Should I inform the surgeon if there
is anything unusual in my medical history?
Yes - also ensure you have completed the pre-surgery questionnaire
see our Download Page.
- I am thinking of having Adjustable Lap-
Band surgery, what kind of band is placed?
The adjustable lap-band is a French band.
- What sort of fluid is inserted into an
Adjustable Laparoscopic Band?
What sort of fluid is inserted into an Adjustable Laparoscopic Band?
The band is filled with Water. Normally your weight should start to reduce immediately,
you will need to have the band adjusted. Please see our postoperative aftercare
program.
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- What type of anaesthesia is used?
General anaesthesia. When you are undergoing general anaesthesia,
you will be put asleep by IV-medication. The anaesthetist will discuss the type
of anaesthesia used prior to surgery.
- Can I fly after having my surgery?
You can fly home after your surgery. Low weight heparin 'B' may be
administered to reduce the possibility of thrombosis. Ask the surgeon about this.
- What is the risk of infection?
Our partner hospital has successfully treated hundreds of our patients
with no cases of cross infection. Should a patient be found to have an infection
on arrival, they are isolated and treated accordingly. If a secondary infection
did occur, it would manifest itself during the stay in hospital. Belgium has one
of the lowest secondary infection rate is in Europe. So far, all our clients have
remained free of secondary infections.
- Could you tell me a little more about
the intensive care facilities?
The hospital has a fully functioning 24 - hour accident & emergency
department; paramedics; and a fully equipped intensive care unit. Response time
for a doctor to be at bedside day or night is under 2 minutes.
- What tests will there be before surgery?
If you are older than 45, there will be a chest X-ray, ECG and a lab
investigation. If you are younger than 45 there will only be a laboratory investigation.
The surgeon will judge whether other tests are necessary.
- Will my stay in hospital be extended?
If you have any pre operational risk factors that require an extended
stay to ensure your safety, then your stay may be extended.
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- What are pre operational risk factors?
Preoperational risk factors are any risk factors in determining
a patient's eligibility for obesity surgery.
Pre operational risk factors include:
Less serious risk factors:
- Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
- Significant impairment in activities of daily living
- Intertriginous soft tissue infections
- Stress urinary incontinence
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease
- Weight-related arthropathies which impair physical activity
- Obesity-related psychosocial stress
Having risk factors such as these does not mean that you are not
eligible for surgery, but we need to be informed if you have any health problems.
- What should I bring with me?
- Slippers, trainers or walking shoes; loose comfortable
clothing; dressing gown or bath robe; personal toiletries; eye glasses; dentures;
reading materials or anything to help you relax such as a personal walkman and
music.
- Phone numbers of people you may want to call.
- Money for telephone calls and items such as a magazine.
- Form E111 (obtainable from your local post office)
- Because you will be on a soft food diet for a while
its useful to bring protein shake mix, broth, soups, and tea. These can all be
found in dry forms and mixed with hot water.
- Bring any medication and a list of any medicines that
you have been taking.
- If you have a heart condition bring along any medical
reports that may be relevant.
- It is not necessary to have a medical referral and if
you are unable to get hold of your medical records we can manage without them.
- 5 days before travelling, an antiseptic cleansing shower
gel such as "Hibiscrub" may be used to reduce any germs that may be
present on your skin. This is obtainable from a chemist.
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- Can I eat whatever I wish after obesity
surgery?
You will need to change your eating habits. You must not take fluid
with you meals. You will need to emulsify solid food for a while and eat 4-5 small
meals a day. It is important for you to get a good intake of proteins and so a good
healthy balanced diet is recommended. For the rest of your life, you will need to
take multivitamins with B12 and Iron. You may not take gassy drinks such as colas
or lemonade.
For more nutrition information, check out our post-operation Nutrition Guide.
- Can I relax my eating regime for a few
days before having surgery?
This is a bad idea! The surgeon finds that those that relax their
eating habits for a few days or weeks before surgery often find that their BMI has
increased and that the surgery has less chances of long term success. It is far
better to start right away in reducing your food intact and see if you can loose
a little weight before surgery. This will make the surgeons job and your progress
much easier.
- What is “dumping syndrome”?
This term refers to the emptying of concentrated food directly into
the small intestine. Gastric bypass surgery empties food from the small stomach
pouch directly into the small intestine without first being diluted with fluids
in the rest of the stomach. Therefore, whatever you eat empties directly into the
small intestine. Sweets and fatty foods irritate the small intestine and causes
discomfort. Eating and drinking fluids simultaneously will also cause this dumping
syndrome. This is why we recommend waiting half an hour between eating and drinking.
- When can I return to normal daily activity?
This depends on what your normal activity involved. Providing your
vocation is not too physical, you may return to work shortly after returning home.
Any pain related to the surgery should go away after 10 days or so. General fatigue
can last from 3 to 4 weeks after surgery. 4 to 6 weeks after your operation, you
should be completely back to normal.
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For your own safety, you should not drive until you have stopped taking
medications and can move quickly and alertly to stop your car, especially in an
emergency. After major surgery you should wait 8 weeks before driving unless you
have seen your doctor.
- Should I exercise after obesity surgery?
You are recommended to exercise daily. Whether you have surgery or
not, exercise is important to overall health. The more you exercise, the healthier
you will be and the more weight you will lose. Walking greatly accelerates weight
loss, specifically fat loss. It is suggested that you walk a little every day -
gradually increasing the length of your walks.
- How much should I exercise after surgery?
Following weight loss surgery, your weight reduces because you eat
less food energy (calories) than your body uses. The body makes up the difference
by burning reserves of fat. Your body will want to burn unused muscle first before
it burns fat. Daily aerobic exercise for 20 minutes will tell your body to burn
the fat instead of your muscles.
- When do I have my stitches removed?
After surgery, the incisions on your abdomen are closed with internal
stitches which dissolve in 4 to 6 weeks.
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- How many times do I have to get my Lap
band refilled?
Lap band refills vary from person to person. The band will need adjusting
3 - 4 times in the first year and normally yearly thereafter.
- Can I get this done in the UK?
For refills in the UK, please see our aftercare section.
- What if something goes wrong after I
return home?
There are a number of aftercare and emergency systems in place should
they be needed. Please remember that these should only be used in the event of urgent
need. Patient seeking urgent assistance should follow the steps laid out below.
If the patient ‘s condition appears serious your local doctor, GP or Accident
and Emergency Centre should be contacted in the first instance otherwise:
- Contact us Direct Healthcare
International Limited (preferably during office hours) if necessary use the 24hr
response emergency phone number.
- The treating surgeon will be contacted and asked take
direct contact with the patient or their doctor.
- The patient may be asked to see their doctor or GP if
this is more practicable or attend their local hospital.
- A doctor can be called to attend at the patients home
(UK only) in the event of any significant problems. The doctor can take a wound
swab which will be tested in our labs, report and if necessary medicate.
- If the problem appears significant but not an emergency
the patient may need to return to the operating facility for further examination
and treatment.
Direct Healthcare International Limited have successfully sent hundreds
of people for treatment at their partner hospitals and clinics. No significant medical
problems have occurred.
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- How Many Operations has the Surgeon Done?
The surgeon has performed approximately 6,000 successful obesity surgeries.
- Can I talk to Someone Who has Already
had the Surgery?
Yes, we have previous clients who are willing to talk to you and answer
any questions you may have. Please write to us for contact details.
- Can the Surgeon Refuse Surgery?
The surgeon would only refuse to operate where medical conditions
prevent surgery. Please contact us if you feel that you may have any medical conditions
that may prevent surgery.
- How big are the hospital rooms? Are they
en-suite and do they have TV
Each hospital room normally contains 2 beds. If a 2-bed room is not
available, you may be placed in a 4-bed room. Rooms have a TV, telephone and en-suite
toilet. Telephones function with a call card system that requires a 10 Euro returnable
deposit. The deposit together with any remaining credit is refunded when you leave
the hospital.
- Why do I Have to Stay Extra Days in Belgium
After I am Released from the Hospital?
Patients are asked to stay a few days extra after surgery is for their
safety. If any post operative complications should occur, this will happen within
2-3 days of surgery. We therefore like the patient to be near the surgeon during
this period so that he may monitor the recovery progress. There is a final examination
before departure as well as a post operative visit by our nurse at your hotel.
- Is there any Additional Cost Associated
with Obesity Surgery?
The DHI fully inclusive package includes DHI overrun Medical Cover,
however this doesn’t cover the first two additional nights in intensive care.
(Please see our DHI overrun insurance for details.) Normally, our surgery allows
for patients occasionally staying an extra day in hospital and in such cases no
additional fee is charged. However, if the duration of stay becomes longer, there
may be some extra charges involved.
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- Can DHI Organise my Accommodation?
Yes, the DHI fully inclusive
package takes care of your travel, flights, accommodation and all transfers.
If you have booked the Basic Package, we can direct you to a website featuring the
hotels of Bruges.
- Can I Bring Friends or Family with Me?
Yes you can bring one friend or family. We would prefer it if one
person accompanies you for moral support.
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