San Antonio Surgery After Weight Loss | See Before and After Photos, Cost, Prices

How to prepare for your surgery

Pre-operative appointment

We will review your procedure in detail and go over the surgical plan with you.
We will provide you with all the after-care instructions as well as necessary medication prescriptions.
We will also address any questions and concerns you may have
You will also be provided with a post-operative appointment for follow-up after your surgery.

Do’s and don’ts leading up to your surgery

Please Do Not:

Smoke (cigarettes, vape, or pipe) or use any nicotine products 4 weeks prior to and after your surgery. Smoking and nicotine greatly impair healing, which can cause an increased risk for infection and complications, such as delayed incisional healing or wound opening, which can lead to scarring.
Expose yourself to secondhand smoke, as this can also cause wound healing problems. If you do use nicotine products, you will need to stop 4 weeks prior to surgery, and you will need to undergo a nicotine test prior to surgery to ensure that it is out of your system.
Please do not drink alcohol before or after your surgery (until cleared by your surgeon).
In addition, please do not drink alcohol while taking pain medication, as this can have serious, life-threatening side effects.
Please do not bring valuables on the day of your surgery. If you have body piercings, kindly remove them prior to surgery.

On the day of your surgery, please do the following:

Please have someone available to drive you home. Due to the lasting effects of the general anesthesia, you will be unable to operate a car after surgery. A taxi or car service is not adequate either. You will need a family member or friend who can assist you.
You may have been asked to obtain pre-operative tests at a lab facility or your primary care physician. Your pre-operative tests (labs, X-rays, EKG, etc.) need to be completed at least three days before your surgery. If you have them done at your doctor’s office, the results will need to be faxed to (210) 362-1582.

Things to remember in the days leading up to your surgery after weight loss

The surgery facility will call you the day before your surgery to let you know what time and where you should arrive.
Shower the morning of or the night before your surgery with your normal soap and water. Do not use deodorant, lotion, cream, perfume, aftershave, oils, or makeup after bathing.
Do not take Advil, Aleve, Naproxen, Fish Oil, Garlic, CoQ10, Omega 3,6, Motrin, Excedrin, Ibuprofen, Aspirin, medications for arthritis, or any medication that contains these medications for ten days prior to your surgery and two weeks after.
Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your surgery.
Please call our office if you have an infection of any kind prior to your surgery.

Guidelines for aftercare

To make your recovery faster and more comfortable, we recommend that you prepare before your surgery. Things you can do are:

Prepare a sleeping area that is easy to get to. For example, set up a couch downstairs so you will not have to walk up to an upstairs bedroom.
Keep your toiletries close by and prepare food ahead of time.
Arrange for someone to be with you the first night after surgery.
You may receive your post-operative medications at your pre-operative appointment. You should pick up these medications prior to your surgery.
If you’re having an outpatient same-day procedure, you will be released to go home the same day and will need someone to drive you home.
Review your post-surgery instructions given to you at your pre-operative appointment

Anesthesia guidelines for surgery after weight loss

If you have a history of nausea or vomiting after anesthesia, please let us and your anesthesia provider know. We can prescribe anti-nausea medications and take extra steps to prevent nausea and vomiting after surgery. When undergoing general anesthesia, you will need to have someone drive you home. You will not be allowed to undergo surgery if there is no confirmed designated driver.

Tips on handling pain and discomfort after your surgery

After your surgery, you may experience some discomfort. The goal of pain medications is to reduce pain but not to eliminate all pain. A good measure for if you need more pain control is that you should be able to take a deep breath without severe pain. Do not wait until your pain is unbearable to take the next dose of pain medication because it will take longer to get your pain under control again.

What medications will I be given after my procedure?

You may resume your home medications after surgery except for blood thinners, which will be determined by your surgeon.

We will give you a prescription for pain medication.
If you are prescribed medications that contain acetaminophen (Tylenol), it is important that you do not exceed 3500 milligrams of acetaminophen (Tylenol) per day.
Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or make important decisions while taking narcotic pain medications.
Narcotic medications may cause constipation. Ensure you have adequate (>25 grams/day) of fiber in your diet and drink at least 64 oz. of water daily. You may also wish to take an over the counter stool softener such as MiraLAX or Colace once or twice daily.
You can alternate your narcotic medication with Ibuprofen 600mg every 6 hours and/or
Gabapentin 300mg three times a day. Take ibuprofen with food to protect your stomach from irritation.
If you have a history of nausea or vomiting after anesthesia, you may be prescribed an anti-nausea medication (Ondansetron), which can be taken as needed.

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More information on pain medication

Before prescribing any narcotic medications, we are required to check the Texas controlled substance history database (Texas Prescription Monitoring Program). If you currently have a pain medication contract with another physician or are currently on narcotic medications, we will have to coordinate your medications with that physician.

We will prescribe pain medications for recovery after surgery but do not prescribe long-term pain medications and do not do more than one refill for any pain medications. If you have pain that is beyond what is usually anticipated for your surgery and there is no surgical reason that can be found, we will help by referring you to one of the many pain management specialists that we work with.

How do I care for my surgical site?

You may shower 48 hours after your surgery. Do not scrub the incisions. Just let the water run over them and gently dab them dry afterward. Gauze should be applied over the surgical site daily as needed for light drainage. Do not immerse your incisions in baths or hot tubs until at least 2 weeks after surgery.

How do I care for my drains?

Sometimes, it is necessary to place a drain after surgery. The purpose of a drain is to remove excess fluid from the surgical area. Empty the bulbs and measure the output whenever the bulbs are half full or at least twice a day. You will be given a sheet to record how much is coming out of the drains. Bring this sheet to your follow-up appointment. In general, drains remain in place until there is less than 30mL (1oz) out of the drain for two days in a row.

For non-emergency questions:

During business hours (8 AM – 4:30 PM), call (210) 658-3555.
After hours and on weekends/holidays: call (210) 658-3555 and you will be forwarded to the on call surgeon.
If you are having any serious problems or symptoms, such as difficulty breathing or chest pain, call 911 or proceed to your nearest emergency room.

Please Call Immediately if:

Temperature greater than 100.5 F
Bleeding or pus draining from the wound site. If you have bleeding, apply direct pressure to the area for 20 minutes
Increasing pain that is not controlled on oral pain medications
Increasing redness or size at the surgical site
Your drain is not holding suction
If your wounds come apart
Any other concerns

What activities should I avoid after my surgery?

No vigorous activity such as pushing, pulling, bouncing, housecleaning, yoga, running or lifting over 5 lbs. until your follow-up appointment.
Avoid activities that raise your blood pressure or heart rate.
You are encouraged to walk around, and you can even climb stairs after surgery.
You should not lay in bed and be sedentary after your surgery.

When is my follow-up appointment for my surgery?

Your clinic appointment will be scheduled at your pre-operative appointment before surgery. If you need to change your appointment time or date, please contact our clinic at (210) 658-3555. The surgeon may adjust any of the above guidelines and instructions based on the patient and the type of surgery performed.

Surgery After Weight Loss