• Things to Avoid

    • Stop or cut down on smoking to reduce your surgery risks and improve your recovery
    • Avoid chemical peels and needling

  • Pre Surgery Tests

    • Pain medications are prescribed to help with pain during the recovery phase. 
    • After your operation, you will have a drip in your arm for pain medication and antibiotics
    • Going home remember to arrange for someone to take you home, no driving is recommended.

  • Medication Information

    Regardless of whether you are expecting to have treatment or just a consultation please advise the doctor of any medications you are taking, including:


    • Aspirin, Anti-inflammatory or Blood-thinning medications, or diabetic medications

    Discuss  which ones should be stopped before surgery like aspirin, warfarin, anti-inflammatory medications or drugs that increase the risk of bleeding 7 days before surgery

  • Physical & Mental Preparation

    Physical & Mental Preparation


    • Eat a well-balanced diet, supplemented by a daily multivitamin with iron.
    • Treat any tooth, gum, bladder or bowel problems before surgery to reduce the risk of infection
    • Stay fit before surgery - increase your walking distance, use the stairs, be ready to increase activity after surgery
    • Mental preparation - breathing exercises and calming apps can be very helpful, especially if you are feeling anxious in the lead up to surgery

    Preparing mentally and physically for surgery is an important step toward a successful result. 



  • Things to Avoid

    • Stop or cut down on smoking to reduce your surgery risks and improve your recovery
    • Avoid chemical peels and needling

  • Pre Surgery Tests

    • Pain medications are prescribed to help with pain during the recovery phase. 
    • After your operation, you will have a drip in your arm for pain medication and antibiotics
    • Going home remember to arrange for someone to take you home, no driving is recommended.

  • Medication Information

    Regardless of whether you are expecting to have treatment or just a consultation please advise the doctor of any medications you are taking, including:


    • Aspirin, Anti-inflammatory or Blood-thinning medications, or diabetic medications

    Discuss  which ones should be stopped before surgery like aspirin, warfarin, anti-inflammatory medications or drugs that increase the risk of bleeding 7 days before surgery

  • Physical & Mental Preparation

    Physical & Mental Preparation


    • Eat a well-balanced diet, supplemented by a daily multivitamin with iron.
    • Treat any tooth, gum, bladder or bowel problems before surgery to reduce the risk of infection
    • Stay fit before surgery - increase your walking distance, use the stairs, be ready to increase activity after surgery
    • Mental preparation - breathing exercises and calming apps can be very helpful, especially if you are feeling anxious in the lead up to surgery

    Preparing mentally and physically for surgery is an important step toward a successful result. 



  • Smoking - You must be a non-smoker or not smoke for at least 12 weeks prior to surgery. If you relapse, let your surgeon know as soon as possible.
  • Medications - discuss with your surgeon and anaesthetist which medications you can take before surgery. Some bleeding medications and some diabetic medications must be ceased 1 week prior.
  • Fasting - talk to your anaesthetist; generally you cannot eat for 6 hours before surgery


Buying things for your pre-op diet?

  • We'd recommend trying some samples of different VLED shakes, protein supplements and the multivitamins.  Most are available at local pharmacies, or you can buy online at www.costpricesupplements.com.au with a 15% discount for our patients using the code AURORA15


Packing a hospital bag

  • Pack your hospital bag: don't forget to bring
  • Charging cables
  • Your own pillow
  • Comfortable clothes
  • not your best pyjamas, there's a good chance you'll stain them
  • top and pants - your wounds will be checked frequently so don't wear long dresses!
  • Toiletries - toothbrush, toothpaste
  • Lip balm
  • Mouth wash/breath mints if the keto breath bothers you
  • Slippers or thongs for walking around the ward
  • VLCD (Very Low Calorie Diet) - most people will need to be on two weeks of a VLCD. The reason for this is to make your liver lighter (reduction of liver volume) as the liver sits on top of the stomach. If your liver is lighter, it is easier to retract upwards and makes your operation safer as it is easier for the surgeon to reach the top of your stomach. 
  • How long?
  • BMI 30-35 - No VLCD needed
  • BMI 35-40 - Two weeks VLCD
  • BMI above 40 - Four weeks VLCD
  • BMI above 50 - you may need a tailored program
  • Food on VLCD - you have the option of strict VLCD (three shakes, two half cups of non-starchy vegetables and one tablespoon of olive oil) or the modified program for those on more than two weeks (two shakes then one palm sized portion of lean meat plus non-starchy vegetables)
  • Day before surgery: try to stick to fluids as much as possible.
  • Infections - Treat any tooth, gum, bladder or bowel problems before surgery to reduce the risk of infection


Pre-Operative Preparation


Once you and the surgeon have decided on a date for surgery, preparation is necessary to achieve the best results.

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