Question

I'm having surgery on Nov.1st.  I was put on a low carb and high protein diet for 10 days.  My question is was the average amount of weight that should be lost before surgery, I know it's to shrink the liver just wondering how many pounds should be lost?  Thank you in advance.

I guess your doctor could tell you for sure what they want you to lose.  I was on the pre-op diet for 14 days and lost 10 lbs (surprised me).  I think your current weight could affect how much you need to lose.  I have read that some people have to follow the pre-op 4 or 6 weeks.

Good luck with your surgery!

I lost 12lbs

It depends on the individual...I lost 26 lbs on my three week liquid diet...My doctor told me to do two, but I did three. Glad I did....

I didn't lose any weight, and there was no magic number given to me to lose.

It was strictly to help remove/shrink the fatty deposits on the outside of the liver so the surgeon would have an easier time moving it out of the way with the liver trochar.

Hello MRsdwhite.  I understand that the doc wants your liver to be small as it can for the procedure.  I hear that the norm is 10lbs...but it may just depend on YOU. Maybe, if you needed to lose a certain amount, the doc would have put you on a longer pre-op....which by the way was pretty hard for me to do, but I did it!!!  I KNOW YOU CAN TOO. Stay positive...so, if they didn't tell you how many LBs should be lost, well then sounds to me like there is not a set amount...just do your best, and you'll be your best.  kudos by the way for finally getting to have the VGS.  It took me over a year, but finally, just had mine, Monday 10-24-11...so happy, you will be too. Any questions or advice you can give to me, please feel free to befriend me, I will accept. Take care.

I was told to do a 2week pre-op and should usually people lose 10-13 pounds...

I needed to lose 5% which was 14 lbs. I was told not to lose much more than that because then my BMI would fall below the insurance cut off. So I dont have to have do the liquid diet for two weeks before surgery just maintain. Also I did decide to do clear liquids for two days before just to clean out. 

Hi!

I am also having surgery on Nov. 1 and have been on South Beach Phase 1 for the past week to avoid a fatty liver. I didn't get the impression that any certain amount of pounds should be lost - I think the main thing is to shrink that liver!