Lap Band Surgery Before and After
The more you know about the Lap Band System, the easier you will be able to adapt to it.
Preparing for the surgery
Before the surgery, you need to discuss the procedure in detail with your surgeon. Other experts and specialists that will be working with your surgeon are:
- Dietitians
- Psychologists
- Other specialists ( if needed )
To evaluate your health, some laboratory tests will be done and you will be admitted to the hospital the day before, or the morning of the surgery.
The surgery
General anesthesia will be used for the surgery. The Lap Band System will be secured around the upper part of the stomach to create a pouch that is smaller than the stomach.
Part of the lower stomach will be sutured above the band and the remaining part will stay in its normal position.
The surgeon will slightly enlarge one of the incisions to insert the reservoir beneath the skin.
How is the Lap Band System placed in the stomach ?
After the surgery
Once you have recovered from anesthesia, you may feel some pain. However, it can be relieved by taking common analgesics.
Personnel of the hospital will help you to get out of bed and walk as soon as possible to prevent blood clots, respiratory problems, or blisters from being in bed too long.
The day after the surgery X-rays may be taken to make sure that the Lap Band System is in the right place and that the passage leading from the pouch to the lower stomach is open. You may be asked to drink a contrast dye liquid. This will allow the surgeon to see your abdomen well on the X-ray. If no complications exist or arise, you may return to normal life in 1 to 2 weeks after the surgery.
Eating and drinking after Lap Band Surgery
After the surgery you will have to follow a new diet
which you will discuss in detail with your surgeon and/or dietitian. This diet will not only help you to learn the lifestyle and diet changes, but also to adapt to them.
Note:
The following information is general. Your surgeon will give you instructions specifically for you. Make sure you understand them. In order for your stomach to heal completely and well, it is important that you start following the diet instructions immediately after the surgery. It is especially important that the pouch, created during surgery, is not stretched excessively in the first weeks. Vomiting may cause stretching of the pouch and/or slippage of the gastric band.
The first days after the surgery
Immediately following the surgery you will be allowed an occasional sip of water or munching on ice chips. Ingesting more would increase the risk of complications. What are the possible complications of the lap band procedure ?
The day after the surgery you will be allowed to ingest a little more liquids, but only small amounts at a time. In addition to water, you may drink liquids with an adequate amount of calories. In order to avoid nausea and vomiting, do not drink too much.
The first four weeks
The following drinks and soft foods are recommended for the first four weeks after the gastric band placement:
- Clear broth or soup (watery and without vegetables)
- Low-fat yoghurt
- Milk (preferably 2% or skim milk)
- Gelatina
- Fruit juices or pureed fruits
As time passes, you will be able to start eating solid foods based on the diet given to you by your surgeon and dietitian.
During the first weeks you will be allowed to eat food which will be prohibited later on in your diet due to excessive amounts of calories. It is more important to allow your stomach to adjust to the gastric band during the first weeks than to lose weight.
Weeks four to six
At this time you may start eating creamier and thicker soups. This will help your stomach to adjust to the solid meals you will be eating later on. Some products like bread, red meat, and rice may continue to be irritating, wherefore it is better to eat soft foods that are more easily digested. This includes soft, white meats like chicken, veal, and fish.
Cut the food in small pieces and chew it well. If you do not follow these instructions, you may irritate your stomach, causing bloating and vomiting. Additionally, your stomach may become obstructed.
If problems like nausea and vomiting occur when you start with solid foods, return to the liquid diet you were on before. Then slowly add soft foods to help with the transition from liquids to solid foods. Vomiting may increase the risk of slippage of the Lap Band, slippage of the stomach, or stretching of the new pouch.
Adjustments to the Lap Band System
The Lap Band System can be adjusted to meet your specific needs. This is one of the most attractive aspects of the gastric band.
( Read all the Lap Band Surgery Advantages ) It allows you and your surgeon to be in control and to find the adequate level of stomach restriction for you.
Upon initial gastric band placement, surgeons generally leave the band deflated or partially inflated. Not only does this allow you to adapt to the band the first weeks after the surgery, but also helps the part of the stomach that is surrounded with the band to heal adequately.
The first few weeks are critical. Avoid vomiting as well as applying pressure on the pouch above the band. The first adjustment of the band is done about 4-6 weeks following the surgery, although the exact time varies.
You and your surgeon will decide on the right time to adjust your band. To determine how ready you are for a band adjustment, your surgeon will take the following into consideration:
If the band is very tight, your surgeon can loosen it by removing a little saline solution. If the band is too loose, he can tighten it by adding more saline solution. Only a trained and licensed doctor can do this. Never allow a person without proper medical knowledge to adjust the band, and never try to adjust it yourself. It may cause complications.
Adjustments of the band are done in a hospital, clinic, or in a doctor’s office. X-rays are used to determine the port of access to the reservoir and to guide the needle into the port.
They also allow the surgeon to be able to observe while he is inserting the solution. In addition, X-rays are used after adjusting the band in order to evaluate the size of the pouch and the stomach. To obtain better results, you will need more than one adjustment. Each adjustment will vary between ½ to 2 cc of solution. The maximum amount held by the band is 4 cc.
The exact amount of saline solution needed to make the stoma just the right size varies from person to person. An ideal “filling” should be so that the band is adjusted in such a way that the patient loses weight gradually. This means that the patient will still be able to eat enough to receive all the necessary nutrients. At the same time, he will eat smaller amounts in order to keep losing weight.
The Lap Band System is designed to offer the option to lose weight in a stable, yet secure way. Do not rush an adjustment of the band before you are ready. To see results, the band needs your participation. Successful weight loss also depends on YOU and the relationship you have with your doctors and specialists.
Am I candidate for Lap Band Surgery?
Lap Band Surgery Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
