FAQ – Weight Loss Surgery ...
- Do I need a referral from my Physician?
No, a physician's referral is not necessary, however, it is very
helpful to have their support. We prefer where possible, to work with your physician.
This can only benefit you in the long run. Should your physician 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 determines 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 USA
or Canada?
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.
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- 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.
- 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.
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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. A mask or a breathing tube
then gives an anaesthetic gas for maintenance of anaesthesia. The anaesthetist will
discuss the type of anaesthesia used prior to surgery. If you have a preference,
please state this to the anaesthetist or surgeon.
- 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. In the USA occurrences
are on the increase. 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.
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- What tests will there be before surgery?
If you are older than 45, there will be a chest X-ray,
ECG and a laboratory 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 your stay may be extended.
- What are pre operational risk factors?
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.
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- What should I bring with me?
- Phone numbers of people you may want to call.
- Money for telephone calls and items such as a magazine.
-
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.
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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 really 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. Usually this takes 14 – 21 days after surgery.
- 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.
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- 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.
- 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 USA or Canada?
For refills in the USA, Canada or Europe, please contact
our office for details.
- 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 an emergency or urgent need. Patient seeking urgent advice should follow
the steps laid out below. If the patient ‘s condition appears serious your
local Physician, 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.
- 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.
- 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?
We would prefer it if one person accompanies you for moral support.
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