WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY GUIDELINES

WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY GUIDELINES

WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY GUIDELINES

(Medical Travel & Coordination Guide – Informational Only)

A Guide to Your Weight-Loss Medical Travel Journey

This guideline is designed to help international patients understand how weight-loss surgery travel is coordinated with Medco HealthCo.

It does not provide medical advice, treatment recommendations, eligibility criteria, or health guidance.
All medical information, assessments, and decisions are provided directly by licensed healthcare professionals during consultations.


BEFORE YOU TRAVEL

Initial Contact & Planning

When you contact Medco HealthCo:

  • We gather general information to understand your goals and expectations

  • We coordinate consultation appointments with accredited hospitals

  • A personalised travel and coordination plan is prepared

Medco HealthCo does not determine medical suitability or recommend specific procedures.


Travel Preparation

We assist with:

  • Scheduling hospital visits and consultations

  • Hotel and accommodation arrangements

  • Airport transfer coordination

Patients are responsible for booking flights and ensuring valid travel documents.


ARRIVAL & STAY IN ISTANBUL

Arrival Day

Upon arrival:

  • Airport pickup is arranged

  • Transfer to hotel or accommodation

  • Your planned schedule is reviewed

Our coordination team remains available throughout your stay.


Hospital Visits & Appointments

We coordinate:

  • Hospital appointments and consultations

  • Translation support during visits

  • Communication between patients and medical staff

All medical explanations, evaluations, and decisions are provided directly by licensed healthcare professionals.


DURING YOUR STAY

Coordination & Support

Medco HealthCo supports:

  • Transportation between hotel and hospital

  • On-site assistance during appointments

  • Scheduling adjustments if needed

Our role is to ensure a smooth, organised, and stress-free experience.


AFTER YOUR SERVICES

Departure & Follow-Up Coordination

Before departure:

  • Return transfers are arranged

  • Scheduling checks are completed

After returning home:

  • We remain available for coordination-related communication

  • We assist with document sharing or provider communication upon request


IMPORTANT NOTES

  • Medco HealthCo does not provide medical advice or treatment

  • We do not give dietary, recovery, or post-operative instructions

  • All medical guidance is provided by licensed healthcare professionals

  • Individual experiences may vary


OUR ROLE & RESPONSIBILITY

Medco HealthCo’s responsibility is limited to:

  • Medical travel coordination

  • Logistics and planning

  • Communication and translation support

All medical services are delivered by independent, licensed healthcare professionals at accredited facilities.


NEED SUPPORT?

If you are considering weight-loss surgery abroad and would like clear information and professional coordination, our team is here to assist you.

Anesthesia Instructions:

Pre-Operative Instructions for Anesthesia

•    If you have anesthesia, then you should quit eating and drinking 12 hours before surgery
•    Stop using aspirin or blood thinners one week before surgery 
•    Stop using cigarettes 10 days before surgery 
•    Stop using alcohol 10 days before surgery 
•    Wear casual clothes before surgery so that you will feel comfortable
•    Bring some extra clothes with you when you are coming to the surgery
•    It is best that you will have a companion attending you during surgery
•    If you have diabetes, you should quit taking your medicines 1 day before surgery. For other medication, you can take your pills with a small amount of water
•    Bring your medicines and apparatus of medicine with you (insulin injections, every kind of medicines that you are using daily) to the Hospital

Post-Operative Instructions for Anesthesia

•    After surgery, you will rest in the waiting room for at least 30-60 minutes
•    You will not eat or drink anything until the doctors and nurses tell you to
•    After surgery, you may start using pain relievers or antibiotics for the next 3-4 days
•    Anesthesia may have side effects like dizziness that may last about 24 hours 
•    You should have a good rest after surgery and may require help for your needs


 

Pre-op Instructions Before Weight Loss Surgery

One day before the surgery

–    Examination by Board Certified Medical Doctor and anesthesia doctor, 
–    Complete the necessary procedure for hospitalization and place it in your room at the hospital, 
–    Follow the instructions provided by the nurse regarding blood tests and other tests, 
–    Strictly follow anesthesia instructions provided by the nurse and avoid eating and drinking 12 hours before surgery,

On the morning of the surgery

–    Follow the pre-operation instructions provided by the Pre-Surgical Nurse.

What Should You Bring to the Hospital?

–    If you are using a specific machine for sleep apnea, please use it immediately after surgery.
–    If you take medication regularly, bring your medicines with you,
–    Make sure you bring all your medical information,
–    Comb or brush,
–    Toothbrush and toothpaste,
–    Loose clothes,
–    Deodorant,
–    Books/magazines,
–    Deodorant,
–    Do not bring jewelry or similar personal belongings,
–    Do not apply permanent nail polish that cannot be erased or erased,
–    Please remove all body piercings before coming for surgery. The surgical techniques that are used in the surgery rely heavily on the use of electricity. The metal in your piercing can pose a danger to the surgical team and cause burns at the location of your piercing.
 

BREAKFAST

•    1 boiled egg or 1 slice of cheese
•    400 ml protein milk ( unsweetened )
•    Seasonal greens (unlimited and free)
    
LUNCH

•    Up to 4 lean meatballs (120 g) / Chicken (120 g) / Fish (350 g) / Tuna (160 g)
•    1 plate boiled or baked vegetables or  vegetable based meals 
(without the juice of the dish)
•    4 spoons of nonfat yogurt or 200 ml of protein milk ( unsweetened )
Salad prepared with plenty of seasonal greens (prepared with 1 teaspoon of oil)

BREAK

•    400 ml protein milk  ( unsweetened ) and raw vegetables

DINNER

•    1 scoop of soup (without flour and grain)
•    1 plate of Vegetable based meals containing 1 meatball size of meat / meatball / minced meat / chicken or 6-7 spoon of legumes as a meal or salad
•    4 spoons of nonfat yogurt or 200 ml of protein milk ( unsweetened )
•    Salad prepared with plenty of seasonal greens (prepared with 1 teaspoon of oil)    

BREAK
•    400 ml protein milk  ( unsweetened)

Recommendations: 

•    2-3 glasses of water 30 minutes before each meal! At least 30 ml of water per your kilogram should be drunk! ( ex: 100 kg x 30 ml = person need at least 3000 ml = 3 lt of water )
•    Consume non fat or low fat cheese 
•    Prefer methods such as grill - oven - boiling – steaming to prepare your meals
•    Use oiled napkin to cook meals. First touch the oil with napkin and then oil the surface of the pan. 
•    You can use 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil in your salads daily..
•    Protein milks can be preferred in a desired flavor. However, protein milk should not contain sugar.
•    Do not take the juice of vegetable dishes. When consuming your meals, choose a fork, not a spoon. Only consume the grains. Prepare your vegetable dishes with low fat.
•    The sodium content of mineral water should be below 200. Please check the box on the back of the bottle. Your daily mineral water consumption should not exceed 2 bottles.
•    You can consume herbal tea and black coffee. (without sugar and milk powder)
•    You can choose the following vegetables as a meal or salad:
•    Green leafy vegetables (lettuce and all its varieties, arugula, chicory, parsley, dill, etc.) chard, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, cucumber, fennel, purslane, pumpkin flowers, mushrooms, soybeans, green peppers, red radish, celery, spinach, zucchini, okra). Apart from these vegetables, vegetables such as tomatoes, red peppers and carrots, which are frequently consumed among other vegetables, disrupt the effectiveness of the diet.

Foods that should not be consumed:

1.    Sugar and sugary foods, honey, jam, molasses, marmalade and etc.
2.    Frying and roasting foods 
3.    Margarine, lard, tallow, butter, etc. (solid fats)
4.    Greasy pies, donuts, pies, cakes, pastries 
5.    Cream, cream, chocolate, tahini, tahini halva, ice cream, etc.( foods high in fat)
6.    Fatty cheeses and yoghurts and milks
7.    Skin and fatty parts of turkey, chicken and fish
8.    Sausage, salami, sausage, ham, bacon, roasting
9.    Alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, 
10.  Salty foods; salty olives, ketchup, mustard, pickles,
11.  Tomato paste

POST-SURGERY MANUAL

Post-Operation Surgery General Diet List

We congratulate you because you have taken a new step forward in your HEALTHY life. Our team will be your helpers in your future life so that you can comfortably get through this transition period. In this information sheet, you will be informed of all the post-surgery process. We advise you to read carefully and think over and shape your life accordingly.
It is very useful to divide into five main items to create a nutrition plan after sleeve gastrectomy. 

1.    Early postoperative period (In hospital stage-3-4 days)
2.    Clear diet period (1st - 15th day)
3.    Blended (crushed) nutrition period (15th  - 30th day)
4.    Transitional period (between blended to standard food period) (1st - 3rd months)
5.    Normal Nutritional period (beyond 3rd month) 

1.    Early Postoperative Period: (post-op 1st to 4th day)

During this period, no food is given for the first 3 days while staying in the hospital. The serum from the vascular supply provides the patient's fluid and energy necessities. On the 3rd and sometimes on the 4th day following surgery, colored water (methylene blue) will be given to the patient by oral route for controlling leakage test. If this test is negative, water intake will begin. If the patient is comfortable with the water intake, he/she will be discharged from the hospital with or without taking off the drain.  

Now you are ready to go to your home (Home Sweet Home  ). In your home, do not hesitate to contact any of our team members whenever you need it. All our team members ready to support you.

2.    Clear Diet period (1st - 15th days - 15 days onwards after liquid consumption starts)

This period starts 5 days after the operation. You should get about 0,5-1,0 liters of fluid per day, depending on your weight. For this period, we advise you follow your doctor's diet plan.

3.    Blended (crushed) nutrition period (15th - 30th days)

In this period, you will eat shredded (crushed) food, such as milk, ayran, chicken, and meat broth juice. For this period, we advise you follow your doctor's diet plan.

4.    Transitional period (between shredded to standard food period) (1st -3rd months)

In this period, it is essential to understand that transition to normal food should be slow. After 3 months you can return to eating normally. However, when you eat, please eat responsibly, and follow your doctor's diet plan.      

Lab tests: 

Unless otherwise specified in the lab tests, the following schedule is performed:
Month 1: Hemogram, Urea, Creatinine, Ca, Na, K, iron, iron binding capacity, B12, folic acid, Vitamin D, HbA1c  
Month 3: Hemogram, Urea, Creatinine, Ca, Na, K, iron, iron binding capacity, B12, folic acid, Vitamin D, zinc, magnesium, HbA1c, TSH.
Month 6: Hemogram, Urea, Creatinine, Ca, Na, K, iron, iron binding capacity, B12, folic acid, Vitamin D, zinc, magnesium, HbA1c, TSH (if necessary), cholesterols and lipids panel
Year 1: Hemogram, Urea, Creatinine, Ca, Na, K, iron, iron binding capacity, B12, folic acid, Vitamin D, zinc, magnesium, HbA1c, TSH (if necessary), cholesterols and lipids panel
Certainly, there will be individual differences in these tests.
 
ENJOY YOUR NEW HEALTHY LIFE!

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