My Dr order I do a 7 day liquid diet. Does that really help shrink the liver???

They say it does My doctor's office bases the pre-op diet on the patients' starting BMI. I had to do a three week diet because my BMI was over 50 (gosh). Some only have to do one week, though.

Also keep in mind that every doctor has different requirements. Mine didn't require a liquid diet, but a restricted one. Do what your surgeon says, not what mine or anyone else's says

Yes it does help shrink the liver making it easier for surgery as they have to manouvere the liver to get to the stomach. Also I agree with bandedgirl, go on what your surgeon says, not others =) Good luck with surgery

Yes it does. I just had surgery on 12/15 and lost 9.5lbs 8 days of liquid diet supplemented the first 5 days with 6 oz of fish baked each night.

My doc exaplained it to me that the first few pounds of weight we lose is the 'fatty stuff' stored in the liver. The smaller the liver the better since it must be lifted to put the band around the stomach.

My doc expalined to me that he had recently opened 2 people that large livers and had to close them back up since the liver was too big to lift (remember main artery goes thru liver). Those 2 folks had to lose 30lbs and try again.

I had an ultrasound to determione the size of my liver preop.

Good luck,

Tina

My doc usually requires the liquid diet for 15 days preop. I got away with 8 due to schedule. It's tough, but well worth it! Keep your eye on the prize!!

It's based on your BMI. There is a scale but I don't remember off hand. But the pre-op liquid diet can be anywhere from 1-7 weeks depending on your bmi.

Wow... I know this is gonna sound stupid, but I have only begun my journey to surgery (which wont be till may or june)... and I wondered why they wanted us to lose weight during the pre-op 'training' (as I call it) and then do a liquid diet right before surgery. Now it makes sense.

I love this place!

Once your surgery date is set, begin 7days of reducing meal portion size. Each day eat less, until you’ve reduced your consumption of solid foods to liquids only. No eating at least 12 hours before surgery past. What do you think?