Wound healing is a metabolic process. It needs protein to build tissue, iron to carry oxygen to it, and a handful of vitamins and minerals to run the machinery. After major weight loss — particularly after bariatric surgery — those are precisely the things most likely to be low.
Getting them right before surgery is one of the few things that genuinely changes how you heal, and it is entirely within your control.
What to have checked
| Nutrient | Why it matters | Commonly low after |
|---|---|---|
| Protein (albumin as a guide) | Tissue repair depends on it directly | All bariatric procedures |
| Iron and ferritin | Oxygen delivery; anaemia going into surgery with blood loss | Bypass especially; also sleeve |
| Vitamin B12 | Healing and energy | Bypass and sleeve |
| Vitamin D and calcium | Bone health, general recovery | All |
| Zinc | Wound healing | Malabsorptive procedures |
| Folate | Cell turnover | Reduced intake generally |
Have these done before your consultation and bring the results. Correcting a deficiency takes weeks to months, so finding it early is the point.
Protein, in practical terms
Protein is the one that matters most and the one most often short after bariatric surgery, where intake is limited by capacity. If you are not meeting your target, that is worth solving before an operation rather than after it.
Dr Kumar’s practice offers input from an Accredited Practising Dietitian before surgery. Patients who have been through bariatric surgery often have a dietitian already — bring their advice into the surgical planning rather than treating them as separate.
Muscle matters too
Rapid weight loss costs muscle as well as fat, and muscle mass affects both how you recover and what the contour looks like underneath the skin. Resistance training and adequate protein in the months before surgery are worth real attention.
DEXA body composition scanning is available where it helps clarify the picture. DEXA scans and body contouring.
What to do, and when
- Three to six months out: bloods done, deficiencies identified, supplementation started, dietitian involved if needed.
- Two to three months out: protein target being met consistently; resistance training in place.
- Eight weeks out: nicotine stopped completely. More here.
- Repeat bloods closer to surgery to confirm the deficiencies are corrected.
- Keep supplements going afterwards — healing continues for months.
Why this is not optional advice
A patient with low protein and low iron having a long operation with a large wound is a patient set up for wound breakdown. Surgeons see this, and it is one of the reasons an operation may be postponed. Postponing three months to correct bloods is a much better outcome than a wound that takes three months to heal.
Common questions
Can I just take a multivitamin? A bariatric-specific supplement regimen is usually needed rather than a general multivitamin. Follow what your bariatric team advises.
Will surgery be refused if my bloods are poor? It may be postponed until they are corrected, which is a matter of months, not a refusal.
Do I need a dietitian? Many patients benefit, particularly after bypass. It is available through the practice.
Does this affect Medicare? No — the items turn on the skin and the weight stability. The criteria.
How soon should I start? As soon as you begin thinking about surgery. There is background on nutrition during weight loss at My Weight Loss Journey.
Next step
Ask your GP for bloods now, then bring them and a referral to a consultation. Dr Kumar consults at Westmead, Penrith and Orange. Call 1300 267 726. More about preparing for surgery.
The initial consultation with Dr Kumar is $400, with a Medicare rebate of approximately $88 where you have a GP referral. Surgical fees are quoted individually after your consultation, in a written itemised quote.
All surgery carries risks, and individual results will vary. Read more about the risks of surgery here. A GP referral is required to see Dr Kumar.
Dr Rohit Kumar (MED0001630444) Registered medical practitioner, specialist plastic surgeon (specialist registration in surgery – plastic surgery).
