Optifast for 6 weeks before surgery?

I just spoke with the PHP insurance case manager today. The surgeon they use here in Lansing MI is Dr. Kam. He requires all patients to go on Optifast for the 6 weeks prior to surgery. That means a liquid diet of 800 calories. Is that unusual? I can understand a few days to even a week prior to surgery to "clean things out", but 6 weeks? He thinks this makes you an ideal surgery candidate, helps you lose weight before surgery, and helps you to learn how to deal with head hunger (optifast has a therapy/support component now with a nutritionist, therapist and exercise physiologist.) What do you think?

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