What is it about a pre-op diet that reduces fat in the liver?

[TexasRed1978 17]

My surgeon requires a 2 week pre-op diet to reduce fat in the liver. The diet involves 5 Protein shakes or bars a day plus 1 small meal of 5 oz Protein and 2 vegetables.

What is is about this diet that helps the liver? Is it the high protein? Low fat? Low carb? Low calorie? The liquid instead of solid? That it leads to weight loss?

I'm curious because I think I will be more likely to follow it the more I understand it.

[Arts137 1,811]

Protein-rich Diet (Liver-Shrinking-Diet)

Every patient who is preparing for surgical treatment of overweight should maintain a protein-rich diet. The diet should be started two weeks before the operation. Such a diet is characterized by a high Protein content, low fat content and reduced carbohydrate content.

Reducing the glycogen stores in the liver leads to a considerable reduction in the size of this organ, which makes the surgical procedure easier for the surgeon. This makes the procedure safer and reduces the risk of complications during surgery. The protein-rich diet also leads to a reduction in body weight, mainly of fatty tissue, which improves the general conditions for a laparoscopic procedure to a great extent.

[Arts137 1,811]

P.S. I wholeheartedly agree that the more you research and understand the better it will go!!!

[NewAshes 232]

I don't understand why some surgeons want you to lose weight to shrink the liver when you can just do a 2 week diet. I'm a apple so I need to try and lose 20 pounds to shrink my liver =.=

[SerendipityHappens 1,594]

I don't understand why some surgeons want you to lose weight to shrink the liver when you can just do a 2 week diet. I'm a apple so I need to try and lose 20 pounds to shrink my liver =.=

It's not only to shrink the liver.. he wants a combination of smaller liver and less visceral fat.. if you're an apple you likely have a lot of visceral fat that can make it hard for him to have enough room to get the instruments in for a laproscopic procedure. If you lose some of your visceral fat, then after he blows up your stomach with the gas, he'll have more "air space" in there to move around without so much fat in the way.

[******** 397]

My dr said a good dr doesn't need the liver shrunk he just told us we couldn't gain weight before surgery...full of himself much?

[pantala 125]

My dr said a good dr doesn't need the liver shrunk he just told us we couldn't gain weight before surgery...full of himself much?

This over-confidence from your doctor would scare me. Janice, I would go ahead and do a pre-op hi protein/lo carb diet anyway for your own peace of mind.

There are also doctors who are so confident they don't think they need to do a leak test and guess what? Two of those patients have been in our Complications forum.

[******** 397]

This over-confidence from your doctor would scare me. Janice' date=' I would go ahead and do a pre-op hi protein/lo carb diet anyway for your own peace of mind.

There are also doctors who are so confident they don't think they need to do a leak test and guess what? Two of those patients have been in our Complications forum.[/quote']

I had my surgery on the 23rd and no complications so far. I looked at the pre op diets many people do and they are basically the same if not worse than what I ate before surgery. I trusted him it was just funny the reason why he stated. I was curious at first why they didn't do one (no surgeon at this hospital does) but since being on this site I have met a dozen people who didn't. I did a leak test which was disgusting!

[TexasRed1978 17]

Thanks everyone. So it seems like the liquid portion is not directly related to reducing the fatty liver or weight loss, but it is an easy way to get a LOT of Protein in and also leads to weight loss? I guess it is also practice for post-op. Is that right?

To be honest the pre-op diet scares me more than post op since I'll still have my normal hunger and stomach size pre-op. Plus, the one diet I never ever tried was a liquid diet because I knew that I would not be able to do it very long, so I am nervous about that diet. Fortunately, I can do Protein Bars in with the liquid part. The hospital handbook said that even though all of the surgeons have different pre-op diet guidelines that all of their diets allow for unlimited broth, sugar free Jello, etc. I need to check with a NUT at my surgeon's office to make sure that is correct.

[junebug38 13]

There are also doctors who are so confident they don't think they need to do a leak test and guess what? Two of those patients have been in our Complications forum.

I asked my surgeon about he leak test and he said he doesn't do them because anyone with a leak always shows symptoms. He said they used to do them, but never found a leak with the test that they couldn't already predict based on the symptoms. I think he said they always present with fever, extra abdominal pain, high pulse....

[Truckerchic_M 92]

Thanks everyone. So it seems like the liquid portion is not directly related to reducing the fatty liver or weight loss' date=' but it is an easy way to get a LOT of Protein in and also leads to weight loss? I guess it is also practice for post-op. Is that right?

To be honest the pre-op diet scares me more than post op since I'll still have my normal hunger and stomach size pre-op. Plus, the one diet I never ever tried was a liquid diet because I knew that I would not be able to do it very long, so I am nervous about that diet. Fortunately, I can do Protein Bars in with the liquid part. The hospital handbook said that even though all of the surgeons have different pre-op diet guidelines that all of their diets allow for unlimited broth, sugar free Jello, etc. I need to check with a NUT at my surgeon's office to make sure that is correct.[/quote']

I am still pre op on my last month of a 6 month program which I need to lose 30 lbs by june 10. At beginning of May I still had 7 lbs to go so I have been doing a relaxed version of my pre op diet. You will be surprised after a couple days of high Protein and low carbs your not starving just have something every few hours. I have been more focused on finding new types of protein powders, bars and recipes that I forget about the crappy food. I use my fitness pal and am getting between 1200 to 1500 cal day. My energy is way up and my belly has gotten really squishy lol think of this as a positive thing for goal not a chore ...best of luck!

[Arts137 1,811]

Thanks everyone. So it seems like the liquid portion is not directly related to reducing the fatty liver or weight loss, but it is an easy way to get a LOT of Protein in and also leads to weight loss? I guess it is also practice for post-op. Is that right?

To be honest the pre-op diet scares me more than post op since I'll still have my normal hunger and stomach size pre-op. Plus, the one diet I never ever tried was a liquid diet because I knew that I would not be able to do it very long, so I am nervous about that diet. Fortunately, I can do Protein Bars in with the liquid part. The hospital handbook said that even though all of the surgeons have different pre-op diet guidelines that all of their diets allow for unlimited broth, sugar free Jello, etc. I need to check with a NUT at my surgeon's office to make sure that is correct.

No, the diet reduces the glycogen stores in the liver and then the FAT has to be burned for fuel. So it does reduce the liver (fat) by from 8 to 15% in size.

[MKGlidewell 15]

ARTZ137 you are the winner. In order to get to the stomach the surgeon has to lift the liver. Anytime a laparoscopy is done they use the instruments to lift and move the,liver out of the way for a better view in that small space. The smaller the liver is the less force has to be put on it to retract it, which greatly reduces the chance of there being a tear or lasceration. Truly it is in everyone's best interest to do a pre op diet, not only to get your body used to relying on fewer calories and less food (reduces caloric/fat distress which can lead to hair loss) but also shrinks the liver which reduces the likelihood of a secondary complication.

When it comes to a leak test...some docs do it, some don't do it right away. The rationale is that very very rarely do we leak immediately post stapling. It is usually within the 1st 24 hrs after we have been moving and what not. Your surgeon should most definitely do a barium swallow/upper GI the day after your surgery to check then for leakage, and to make sure the liquid will pass through your GI junction. Neverthelesss, you should wake up from surgery with a drain (hemovac) as a precautionary measure. If you do leak this drain will collect the infectious Fluid and drastically reduce the complications of getting a leak and becoming septic.