Prior to your admission

Ensuring your bariatric surgery can proceed on schedule

Having already confirmed your admission time and fasting time prior to the day of your surgery, it is important to follow these instructions on the day of your surgery:

• Shower as normal, however do not use any powders, perfumes, deodorants or creams on the skin.
• Wear clean comfortable clothes — you will be changed into a hospital gown for theatre and then change back into your own clothes to go home.
• Bring only a small bag to admissions, with medications/scripts, scans and paperwork.
• After you present to the main hospital desk for admission:
• You’ll be directed to the day of surgery admissions (DOSA) and prepped for operation
• You’ll be greeted by Dr Ian Baxter and the anaesthetist, then taken into the operating theatre
• Dr Baxter will chat to you further and help calm any nerves before the general anaesthesia puts you in a sleep-like state for your procedure to commence.

Before you know it, you’ll awake post-op.

The hospital staff will notify your next of kin when you are in recovery and when they can come visit you.

Bariatric surgery takes roughly 45 to 60 minutes to complete. In most cases you will spend two nights (three days) in hospital, during which you’ll commence a liquid diet. The nursing staff will assist you with your medications, pain relief and intravenous fluids.

Prior to discharging, you’ll receive a visit from Dr Baxter and one of the Sunshine Coast Medical Weight Loss Centre’s dietitians where you’ll be able to ask any questions you have.

Rest assured that once you go home, you won’t be going it alone. Sunshine Coast Medical Weight Loss Centre’s specialist New Beginnings aftercare package provides all the guidance and support you need every step of the way for the months and years ahead.