PATIENT INFORMATION GUIDE
                     OwensboroHealth.org/BestSelf
                                                  Owensboro Health Surgical Weight Loss Center
                                                                TABLE OF CONTENTS 
                         GENERAL INFO                                                         PRE-OPERATIVE INFO 
                         Welcome ................................................. 3          What you need to know BEFORE surgery ..... 62 
                         How to contact us .................................... 4 
                                                                                              Pre-admissions appointment .................. 63 
                         Introduction to our program ................... 5 
                                                                                              Preparing for weight loss surgery ........... 64 
                         Steps to weight-loss surgery ...................  9 
                                                                                              Body cleansing ....................................... 65 
                         Causes of obesity ...................................  11 
                                                                                              What to bring and wear to the hospital ..66 
                         Resolution of co-morbidities ..................  12 
                                                                                              Day of surgery: What to expect ..............67 
                         Bariatric surgical procedures ..................  15 
                                                                                              Your recovery: What to expect ............... 69 
                         Note pages ............................................. 18          Discharge: Going-home instructions ....... 70 
                                                                                                How to have a great surgical experience ...73 
                         NUTRITION INFO 
                         Physician-supervised weight-loss trial  .. 19 
                                                                                               POST-OPERATIVE INFO 
                         Bariatric surgery nutrition plan  .............. 36 
                                                                                              What you need to know AFTER surgery ........ 74 
                         Protein supplements 
                                                                                              How and when to contact us .................. 75 
                              Requirements and resources  ...........     41 
                                                                                              Post-operative overview. ........................ 76 
                         Pre-operative diet plan  ......................... 43 
                                                                                                   Possible post-surgical problems ........78 
                              One day before surgery  ...................46 
                                                                                                   Medications to avoid ........................80 
                         Post-operative diet stages 
                                                                                                   Possible post-surgical side effects .....81 
                              Stage one: Clear liquids .................... 47 
                                                                                              Acknowledge of instructions ................... 83 
                              Stage two: Full liquids ...................... 48 
                              Stage three: Soft foods ..................... 50 
                                                                                              MISCELLANEOUS 
                              Five weeks post-op. .......................... 52 
                                                                                              Frequently asked questions ....................84 
                              Three months post-op ...................... 53 
                                                                                              The exercise challenge ............................ 85 
                              One year post-op ............................. 54 
                                                                                              Sample physician letters ......................... 87 
                         Reading nutrition labels ........................... 55 
                                                                                              How to measure BMI .............................. 89 
                         Dumping syndrome................................ 56 
                                                                                              Appointment dates ................................ 90 
                         Common food intolerances .................... 57 
                         Required vitamin supplements ................ 58 
                     2                           OwensboroHealth.org/BestSelf • (270) 688-1500
               Owensboro Health Surgical Weight Loss Center
      Ravi Alapati, MD, FACS
      Medical Director,
      Owensboro Health  
      Surgical Weight Loss Center 
       • General surgeon with
        fellowship training in
        minimally invasive and
        bariatric surgery
       • Board-certified by the
        American Board of Surgery
       • Fellow of the American
        College of Surgeons
       • Implemented Owensboro
        Health’s comprehensive
        bariatric program in 2018.
                   Welcome
      On behalf of the Owensboro Health Surgical Weight Loss Team, we welcome you and 
      celebrate your first steps toward improved health. The goal of our program is to help our 
      patients lose weight and gain their best self through surgical weight loss. 
      We have structured our program to ensure that our patients are well informed and 
      prepared to meet any challenges head-on with the help of the Surgical Weight Loss Team. 
      We look forward to helping you navigate this exciting transformational process. If you 
      have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to provide us with your feedback, 
      and we will do our best to answer questions and resolve any issues. 
      Ravi Alapati, MD, FACS
       3       OwensboroHealth.org/BestSelf • (270) 688-1500
               Owensboro Health Surgical Weight Loss Center
                2235 Mayfair Avenue • Owensboro, KY 42301-4519 
                     Office (270) 688-1500
                       Fax (270) 688-1501 
                   Email:  SWLC@OwensboroHealth.org 
                   Web: OwensboroHealth.org/BestSelf 
         For non-urgent questions or requests, the best way to reach us is to leave a message on 
         MyChart for Dr. Alapati. The appropriate staff member will respond as soon as possible. 
                      Ravi Alapati, M.D., FACS  
                       Medical Director,  
                     Surgical Weight Loss Center 
                    Fellowship-trained Bariatric Surgery 
                     General Surgery, Endoscopy 
                    Michael Farina, Ph.D.  Psychologist, 
                       Bariatric Surgery 
                       Tabitha Day, PA-C  
                   Physician Assistant, Bariatric Surgery 
                      Jan Carlo, RN, BSN, CBN  
                     Director, Bariatric Services 
                        April Lambert 
                      Practice Administrator 
                       Scott Hall, RDN, LD 
                    Registered Dietitian Nutritionist 
                        Bariatric Surgery  
       4       OwensboroHealth.org/BestSelf • (270) 688-1500