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Preparing Your Body for Surgery

Many people may need surgery during their lives. For major procedures, your body works hard to recover and may need extra support for healing and recovery.

If you are preparing for surgery, increasing your energy and nutrient intake, when needed, may help support your body before the procedure.¹˒²

Fresubin explains how nutrition and surgery are linked: nutritional status matters as a better nutritional status is linked to better recovery; weight loss is common as illness and surgery can affect weight and muscle mass; and recovery support through improving intake before surgery may help support recovery.

How Nutrition Support Helps You Prepare

Taking oral nutritional supplements (ONS) before surgery can help provide your body with energy, protein and micronutrients when regular food alone is not enough. ONS are available in different formats, flavours and textures that can fit into your everyday life.

They can form part of preoperative and postoperative care, as malnutrition can be a risk both before and after surgery. When included as part of a wider programme of nutritional, physical and clinical support, ONS may help support recovery and functional outcomes.³⁻⁶

They are a key part of your pre- and post-operative care, as malnutrition can be a risk both before and after a surgery. Taking ONS as part of a wider programme of support can improve your post-operative outcomes and quality of life. 3-6

What is prehabilitation? Fresubin explains that prehabilitation includes nutrition support, physical activity, stress or anxiety reduction and lifestyle changes.

Nutrition After Surgery

Maria, 63, underwent surgery for colorectal cancer with liver metastases and lost around 10% of her body weight.

As part of her recovery plan, high-energy, high-protein oral nutritional supplements helped support her nutritional intake. Over time, Maria regained weight, felt more energised and was able to continue her recovery at home.

Explore Patient Stories
Maria sits in a wheelchair as she smiles up towards her healthcare professionals who helped her regain her weight and energy with Fresubin nutritional supplements during her colorectal cancer treatment.

*All Fresubin products are food for special medical purposes, to be used under medical supervision. 
1 Minnella, E.M., et al. JAMA Surg, 2018
2 Wischmeyer, P.E., et al. Anesth Analg, 2018. 126(6): p. 1883–1895
3 Fukuda, Y., et al. Ann Surg Oncol, 2015. 22 Suppl 3: p. S778–85
4 Gillis, C., et al. Nutr Clin Pract, 2015. 30(3): p. 414–9
5 Gillis, C., et al. Clin Nutr, 2018
6 Li, C., et al. Surg Endosc, 2013. 27(4): p. 1072–82.