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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