Okay so how would I know if I have a fatty liver I keep hear people say things like the surgeon won't do your surgery if your liver is to big or something .. But how would I know that? Lol sorry if this is a dumb question lol

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I think it just depends on your surgeon. I have to be on a liver shrink diet for 2 weeks. But I have an aunt who never had to do the liver shrink diet.

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Fatty liver disease is very common, especially in those with obesity. It makes sense that you'd have fat everywhere, including your liver, right? The long-term danger is that the fat can cause scarring in your liver, which can ultimately lead to liver disease and failure.

Anyhow, the whole "preop liver shrinking diet from Hell" is based on getting glycogen, rather than fat, out of your liver. Glycogen is a stored form of sugar that holds four parts Water for each part glycogen. That makes your liver easier to move out of the way during your surgery.

I'm convinced (just my opinion, mind you) that the 2-week period is a holdover from when GBP was what most people were getting. There is a need to clean out the bowel where bowel surgery is involved.

Your liver is in the area of the surgery, there is a slight risk of it being cut during the procedure.

Obese people can have enlarged livers (I do not know what percentage, nor will I guess). Shrinking your liver by losing weight and following a pre-op diet plan prior to surgery can greatly lessen that small risk of a complication.

The extra room you create in your abdomen by losing weight is that much more room for the surgeon to work in, the less excess weight you have can lower your risk of complications from/during the surgery and as an added bonus gets you closer to your goal weight.

Edited April 26, 201610 yr by 4MRB4PHOTO

My bariatric group required an ultrasound of the abdomen where they checked the size of my liver preop.

Yes i too had to do the liver shrink diet 3 weeks prior to surgery not only for the sleeve but i had a hemagioma on the liver which they removed at the same time to make sure it didnt cause and damage to the suture line but good luck on your upcoming surgery a new life begins...

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My primary care doctor had a blood test done and determined from that I had a fatty liver. The surgeon will probably know by the blood work. I have to imagine that 99% of obese people will have a larger liver than normal weight people so it can just be assumed.

Most likely as part of your pre-op testing you'll have a complete blood work up which will include liver enzymes testing. An elevated level of one of the enzymes would be a good indication of fatty liver disease. You most likely will also be required to get an abdominal ultrasound which can also show if you have fatty liver and will give the surgeon an indication of the size of your liver.

The problem with an enlarged liver during surgery is two-fold. First is just the sheer size of it since it blocks access to the stomach and the surgeon has to lift it out of the way. The second is because with enlarged liver, the consistency of the liver tissue is also different - it is more "spongey" and therefore weaker making the chance of a serious complication - tearing, breaking etc - higher when they lift it. So the idea of the liver shrink diet is to reduce these risks. A patient at the lower end of BMI range for surgery and no other signs of liver disease might not need the liver shrink diet.

As a part of my pre-op regimen, I'll be having a ton of testing done, as well as a 2 week liquid diet to shrink a fatty liver. I know that all docs are different, as I have a friend that was sleeved, and she only had to do a liquid diet, the day before.

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Yes I was on a two week preop diet only Protein shakes and Clear liquids . but thank you all this was all very helpful I love this app

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