Beyond bariatric surgery: The Importance of Multidisciplinary Care
Comprehensive and multidisciplinary care offers patients the best chance of long-term success after a bariatric operation. The surgery is a very helpful and effective tool for those seeking significant weight loss, but not a quick-fix one-time solution.
That’s why at Tailor Clinics we offer our bariatric patients the benefit of multi-disciplinary care pre- and post-surgery; a holistic approach setting you up for a transformation that’s healthy and long-lasting.
The bariatric honeymoon phase
We call the first year after your bariatric surgical procedure the “honeymoon” phase—the time during which your appetite is heavily suppressed and you’re losing weight very quickly. This can feel like a dream come true for those who have struggled with weight loss in the past.
Your body is changing fast—and it’s important that your mind, habits, and lifestyle aren’t left behind. As the honeymoon period comes to an end, more normal appetite levels can begin to return. Proper multidisciplinary team care can help you to maintain your momentum and continue to lose weight in a healthy way.
The honeymoon phase is the time to establish good habits in your nutrition and lifestyle. The team at Tailor Clinics is renowned for quality multidisciplinary bariatric care that greatly increases your chances of keeping weight off long-term.
“If bariatric surgery is like buying the dream home, the aftercare is the insurance. You just wouldn’t do one without the other. Your multidisciplinary team has got your back and is there to support you when any challenges arise.”
Your bariatric support team
We have five main branches of clinicians looking after the various aspects of your post-bariatric operation care. Each has their own unique role that contributes to the bigger, multidisciplinary picture:
Surgeon: Your surgeons have a clear role in the process! They perform the surgical bariatric procedure itself, but their job extends beyond that: they are responsible for assessing you to determine whether bariatric surgery is a safe and appropriate option for you. Your safety and results are our main concern.
Nurse: Your bariatric nurses are heavily involved in immediate pre- and post-surgery care. They will educate you on the procedure and how to prepare for it, making sure you are aware of both risks and benefits. They will also help the surgeon to ensure you are medically fit for it to go ahead.
Nutritionist/Dietitian: Your specialist nutrition team plays a crucial role in your long-term care, providing bariatric nutrition education that will give you the greatest chance of ongoing success. In the early stage post-op, they will offer guidance on what you can eat with your healing digestive system—and further down the road, they will support you in forming a healthy and sustainable relationship with food and addressing any nutrient deficiencies.
Psychologist: Your psychologists will help you to transform your mindset alongside your body: reframing beliefs, setting boundaries, developing new coping strategies for difficult emotions, and for some, unpacking trauma which may have impacted the way you related to food in the past. Seeing a professional about these challenges and receiving the tools to change habits is so important as a bariatric surgery patient.
Exercise specialist: Your exercise specialists will help you to harness the power of moving your body to support mobility, strength, fitness, and weight loss. They will work with you to establish a routine that is attainable and enjoyable for you, and work with the nutrition team to ensure you’re properly fuelled for it.
Why choose Tailor Clinics for your bariatric journey?
The significant advantage of having a multidisciplinary team under one roof is the ability for the team to consult on your care with fewer barriers or delays. We are not clinicians who work independently, but rather a team. This allows us to efficiently adjust patient management plans, get the appropriate specialist advice and ultimately provide our patients with more efficient, individualised support. Think of us as a one-stop support shop for bariatric operations, recovery, and long-term weight loss and maintenance.