What do I need to do before my surgery to maximize my chances for a successful recovery?

1. Address Weight concerns 

Overweight patients have greater risk of complications  Ask your surgeon if it is safe to engage in a weight loss program/healthy diet and exercise if you are currently overweight.  Complications of being overweight during and after surgery include but are not limited to: 

• Obesity can lead to obstruction of the airways, which can increase risks from anesthesia 
• High blood pressure and high cholesterol, that often accompany obesity, also increase anesthesia risks 
• The extra tissue can pull the wound apart, increasing the chance of a hernia formation 
• Greater risk for surgical site infection and slower healing because of reduced blood flow in fat tissue. 
• Co-morbidities like diabetes also complicate outcomes and increase risk of complications. 
• An obese abdomen can include complications such as the distance to make stoma reach ?? and increased fat in the mesentery. 
• Obese patients are at a greater risk of blood clots due to increases in the amount of the hormone estrogen in the body and being overweight can make it more challenging to move around (a key factor in decreasing the chances of blood clots). 

 Again, it is important to discuss these factors with your doctor and take steps through diet & nutrition along with exercise to address this concern. 

2. Be Smoke-free 

Smoking has a negative effect on wound healing and surgical outcomes. 

https://www.lung.org/quit-smoking/i-want-to-quit/benefits-of-quitting 

3. Keep Diabetes in Check 

When your blood sugar level is higher than normal, it prevents nutrients and oxygen from energizing cells, prevents your immune system from functioning efficiently and increases inflammation in the body’s cells.  These effects slow down wound healing. 

The better the control of your diabetes, the better your chances of an excellent surgical outcome.  Keeping your blood glucose within the parameters your doctor recommends is key. 

https://www.diabetes.org/diabetes

https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/managing-diabetes/4-steps