Wellness and Weight Loss in Wichita

• Prepayments are due, in full, two (2) weeks prior to surgery
• Do not eat or drink anything after midnight. This includes water, chewing gum and mints or candies. Nothing by mouth.
• Do not wear fingernail polish on the day of surgery. Artificial nails must be removed from both index fingers only.
• Women: On the morning of surgery, wash your face thoroughly with soap and water making sure to remove all make-up. Please do not wear any make-up, including mascara and eye liner, creams or lotions on the day of your surgery.
• Women: all females are required to take a urine pregnancy test and will need to have a full bladder
• Men: On the morning of surgery, wash your face thoroughly with soap and water. Please have a clean-shaven face with no application of after-shave or other lotions. Full-grown beards and mustaches are acceptable.
• Wash your hair thoroughly the night before surgery, and do not wear any type of hair spray or hair grooming products on the day of surgery.
• On the morning of surgery, bathe thoroughly with antibacterial soap or solution. Do not apply any body creams, lotions, or deodorant.
• For ease of dressing when dismissed, please wear loose clothing, loose fitting jeans, shorts or sweats. Do not wear clothes that slip over your head.
• It will be necessary for you to make arrangements for an adult (18 or over) to drive you home or to a local hotel and take care of you the first night of surgery. No one will be released to drive themselves, nor will they be allowed to travel by cab, bus, etc.
• Please do not take Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Naproxen or anything with these for two (2) weeks before or one (1) week after surgery.  This includes Anacin, Alka-Seltzer, Fiorinal, Pepto-Bismol, Empirin, Bufferin, Ascripton, Excedrin, Advil, Aleve, and some cold remedies.
• If you have questions about a particular medication, please call the office.
• Stop taking any herbal medication St. John’s Wart, Vitamin E, Fish oil (Omega 3), energy drinks, or diet pills two (2) weeks prior to surgery.
• If you are taking any phentermine, weight loss supplements, or any other appetite suppressants please stop them 2 weeks prior to surgery.
• No nicotine use three (3) weeks before surgery and two (2) weeks after surgery.
• If you have a change in medications prior to surgery, please notify our office so that we may be aware.
• Please do not take Metformin 24 hours prior to surgery. Please notify your prescribing physician If you use a CPAP/BiPAP machine, you must bring with you day of surgery or your surgery may be cancelled.
• If you have an advance directive, please bring a copy of it to your procedure.
• Bring storage containers and preparations materials for contact lenses.
• Please leave any money, jewelry (includes ALL body piercings) or valuables at home.
• Contact your family doctor’s office to arrange for your preoperative laboratory tests. Tests are to be run three weeks prior to your surgery date.
• Any lab work, pathology or prescriptions are your financial responsibility or that of your insurance company. You, as the patient, are responsible for obtaining any necessary referrals for lab, pathology or anesthesia when required by your insurance company.
• If you live over one and a half (1 ½) hours away, we might recommend that you stay the night in town.
• Make arrangements for childcare and pet care – You can’t do everything. Have someone around to help take care of your loved ones while you recover at home. Prepare a list of important telephone numbers. Contact home care specialists or RNs if needed. Ask the plastic surgeon for a nursing agency if no one else is available.
• Plan Meals – Do grocery shopping and prepare meals to be frozen and eaten during recovery. Consider stocking low sodium soup, crackers, and soft, high protein meals. It’s important to take in lots of fluids. Have water available at all times.
• Prepare your Surgery Recovery Area – Put a plastic mattress liner (for protection) and clean linens on your bed. Have extra pillows on hand if needed. Make items such as a remote control for the TV, laptop computer and cell/portable phone accessible.
• Have someone stay with you for 24 hours – Have a friend or family member stay with you overnight to assist with dressings, medications, going to the restroom, and/or in case of emergency.

Please note: These instructions are only a guide. Your surgeon will give you specific instructions at your appointment. Thank you.

The first 24-48 hours: Clear Liquid Examples
Typically you will only consume clear liquids during this time to allow your ORBERA™ balloon to begin to rest in your stomach. An example of clear liquids are water, broth, teas / coffee, juices, Jell-O.
During this time it is normal to feel nauseous and not hungry. Your stomach is beginning to adjust to something new and needs to learn to recognize the ORBERA™ balloon. Don’t worry, after the first few weeks you will really begin to see the benefits of the intragastric balloon as you will feel less hunger than normal, feel satisfied with smaller amounts of food, and the nausea will subside

Day 2-7: Full Fluid Diet
After the first couple days you can start to progress to full fluids. This will help ease your stomach into adapting to the ORBERA™ balloon and getting back to solid foods. There is no race to advance to the next phase of the diet. Provide your body time to adjust to your ORBERA™ balloon.

Week 2: Pureed Foods During this stage most practices advise patients to puree their foods. Once you are tolerating pureed foods for about a week you may begin advancing to a regular texture diet.
There are no foods or beverages that will damage your ORBERA™ balloon. You do not need to fear accidentally eating or drinking something that will hurt the balloon. However, the first few weeks may take some adjustment to figure out what foods and drinking patterns feel most comfortable to you. Some people notice that drinking a normal amount of liquid (about 4-8 ounces at a time) every 3-4 hours helps alleviate nausea, while others find that drinking small amounts throughout the day works best for them.
As the weeks go on you may notice that what was necessary for you in the beginning is no longer needed. Listen to your body and find a way of eating and drinking that works best for you. No two people are alike after getting the ORBERA™ balloon placed.

Week 3: Soft Foods
Typically at some point during weeks two to four you will notice that your nausea has subsided, and you are starting to adjust to the balloon. You should find that the way you feel when you are eating, and drinking becomes more predictable.
During week 3 or once you are comfortably you can start progressing to soft foods. Give yourself time to adjust to the soft foods before attempting to progress to regular texture foods. If you feel uncomfortable, you can always step back to the pureed or full fluid stages to allow your body time to adjust.

Week 4: Solid Foods
Once you are comfortably eating regular textured foods, if you haven’t started already, begin drinking one glass of water about 30 minutes prior to eating and then drink two glasses of water 30 minutes after eating to rinse the balloon.

REGARDING ANESTHESIA:

You received GENERAL anesthesia, please pay particular attention to the following for 48 hours.

• Do not drink alcoholic beverages.
• Avoid smoking.
• Do not drive a motor vehicle, operate machinery or power tools.
• Do not make any important decisions or sign any legal papers.
• Rest at home with slow, moderate activity as tolerated
• You may be lightheaded, dizzy and drowsy following Please do not stay alone. A responsible adult should be with you for at least 24 hours.
• Progress slowly to your regular diet. Start with liquids working up to solids. Eat slowly and chew your food well.

DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS:

PAIN:  Take prescription medication as directed.   Do not take on an empty stomach.  Do not drive, operate machinery or power tools, and avoid alcoholic beverages while taking this medication.  Please do not take aspirin or medication containing aspirin for two weeks after surgery. This includes Anacin, Alka-Seltzer, Florinal, Empirin, Bufferin, Ascriptin, Excedrin, and some cold remedies. Do not take ibuprofen products for 24 hours after surgery.

You may take Tylenol, extra strength Tylenol, Co-Tylenol. If you have any questions about a particular medication, please call our office.

DRESSING:  Reinforce or change soiled dressings as needed. Leave steri-strips in place for one week or until they come off on their own.

APPLY ICE:  Use ice or gel packs as needed for comfort and swelling for the first 48-72 hours.

BATHING:  Shower after 48 hours.  Do not soak the surgical site; no pools, lakes, hot tubs, or baths.

ELEVATE:  Head, shoulders, and knees on at least two pillows.

CONSTIPATION:  This is a common problem after surgery due to anesthesia, inactivity, and prescription pain medications. Walking stimulates your bowels, so keep moving. Eating a diet of whole grain cereals, fruits, and fruit juices or by using over-the-counter laxatives such as Senokot, Milk of Magnesia, Miralax, Colace, Magnesium Citrate, etc. can help alleviate constipation. If constipation persists, try a Fleets enema or glycerin suppository which can be obtained over the counter at most pharmacies.

OTHER: Progress slowly to your regular diet. Start with liquids, working up to solids. Eat slowly and chew your food well.

PLEASE CALL if you have any problems or you experience:

• Unusual pain, bleeding, swelling, or bruising in operative area.
• Signs of infection: pus, redness, fever, chills or excessive drainage.
• Pain that the prescribed medication does not alleviate.
• Difficulty in breathing, persistent nausea or vomiting.

AFTER HOURS: if you are needing to speak with someone after normal business hours, please call the office at 316-688-7500.

*Prescriptions will not be filled on the weekends