I live in NJ, for a lap band my Dr. Only required a 24hr clear liquid diet for this procedure. Did any of your Dr's say why some if you had to be on a week long liquid diet? I was just wondering, I understand for a sleeve or gastric banding to clean out all the pipes. But just for a band o_0. Just asking. :-)

I was on two weeks of liquids, I believe, so my liver would shrink prior to surgery. I think that is my docs standard procedure.

My dr said the same thing, about wanting the liver to shrink. But I went in for my consultation with him on Monday and had my surgery on Friday. He told me to eat light on Thursday and that was it. I may have died doing 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after of liquid!

My doctor requires it to shrink the liver. It's easier for them to do the surgery since they have to move around it to place the band.

For me personally, the 2 weeks on liquids prior also helped to prepare me for the liquid phase after surgery.

24 hour liquids prior to surgery is standard procedure for any surgery under full anesthesia....required by the anesthesiologist in the event of possible vomiting and aspiration...

As far as the pre-op diet, my Dr. did not care what diet I followed as long as I lost 15-20 lbs (?) or else....a full liquid just happens to be the most efficient..

BTW, what part of NJ are you and where did you have your surgery?

My anesthesiologist said NPO after midnight, my surgery was 12:30 the next day.

My doctor insists that we shrink our liver. He explained to me that he has to move the liver out of the way and that it is very delicate and can rip easily. I actually had to do 3 weeks of the pre-op because my surgery date was postponed for a week. That was hard and I must admit that between the 2nd and 3rd weeks I cheated over that weekend.

There was a guy waiting for surgery in the stall next to me. The doctor came in and discussed that he only lost 7 pounds and there was a possibility he wouldn't be able to do the surgery if the liver was still too large. Scary! I'm glad I had lost 15 pounds. Doctor took the guy back and I didn't hear what happened in the end. I sure hope he went through with placing the band for that patient. It would suck to get in to surgery and be closed up and told to go diet some more.

Strange how some docs are strict about this and others are not.

It seems there are almost as many guidelines as there are doctors. You will find that all the time on the forum. Nice to see what others do. Congrats and best of luck!

I was on two weeks of liquids, I believe, so my liver would shrink prior to surgery. I think that is my docs standard procedure.

That is the same thing my Dr said to shrink the liver, I have noticed there are serveral different diets, I get to shakes in and a 4 oz dinner with greens, for two weeks.

@ B-52, I'm in Morristown and had it done at Morristown Medical Center. My Doctor was Nick Bertha he was very nice.

Oh ok, I guess they can tell by the blood work, my doctor told me I had a small liver which is way I only have 3 incision sites.