Lap Band Surgery is a weight-loss procedure where a prosthetic band is placed around the upper stomach, creating a small pouch that limits the amount of food the patient desires to eat. The procedure is performed with laparoscopic instruments, meaning the surgery is minimally invasive with relatively insignificant recovery times.
The Lap Band “Adjustable Gastric Banding System” is the newest and the only Adjustable and Reversible surgical treatment for morbid obesity in the United States, It induces weight loss by reducing the capacity of the stomach, which restricts the amount of food that can be consumed.
The LAP-BAND® System is a surgically implanted device used to help a person lose weight. If you are considering weight loss surgery and want to know more about the LAP-BAND® procedure, review the following quick facts and stats.
We provide integral health management through:
- Personalized Attention.
- Highly qualified Multidisciplinary team.
- The most advanced technology.
- Care and understanding of our patients and their illness.
How It Works?
By creating a smaller gastric pouch, the LAP-BAND System limits the amount of food that the stomach will hold at any time. The inflatable ring controls the flow of food from this smaller pouch to the rest of the digestive tract. The patient will feel comfortably full with a small amount of food. And because of the slow emptying, the patient will continue to feel full for several hours reducing the urge to eat between meals.
The advantages of LAP-BAND surgery include:
- Reduced surgical trauma and pain
- Less invasive for the abdominal wall (requires small incisions of 5 to10 millimeters) and for the stomach (no cutting or stapling of the organ is needed)
- Shorter hospitalization than standard surgery
- Respect of the anatomical and functional integrity of the stomach without by-passing portions of the stomach or intestines
- Individualized to the patient’s needs via inflation or deflation of the band
- Fully reversible by simply removing the band.
If you want more information about our clinic, the procedure, surgeons, lodging, please send us an email to info@lapbandpros.com, we can send you brochures, questionnaires and tips.Please give us a call: 619) 270-5388
If you already have the Laparoscopic gastric band, and are experiencing slow weight loss or feel that you are able to eat more, you may need a band adjustment also known as band fill.If you would like to get a fill, call us at +1 (619) 270.53.67 or send us an email.
WHAT IS A FILL (LAPAROSCOPIC BAND ADJUSTMENT) ?
When the Lap Band is an adjustable device. It can be “filled” to achieve the level of restriction:
- Feel hungry hours after meal
- Dont lose any pound in weeks
- Dont lose any size in weeks
- If you regain one pound
DO I NEED A FILL (LAPAROSCOPIC BAND ADJUSTMENT) ?
A properly adjusted Laparoscopic band should restrict your eating to about a third of your pre-surgical intake. If you can eat more than a third, you may need a fill. Remember, you must be eating only solid foods since the band is designed to restrict only solids. If you are eating mostly soft or liquid foods, we cannot evaluate the need for a fill since these foods will easily pass through the Lap band even when properly restricted. After about a year, some patients find while they are eating only a third of their volume, selecting their food wisely and eating only solid foods, but still not loosing weight. This may also mean they require a small adjustment to “fine tune” their Lap band to resume weight loss.
HOW MUCH IS RIGHT FOR ME?
If everybody wore the same shoe size, then just one laparoscopic band adjustment might also be right for everyone. The precise fill can only be determined for each individual at that moment in time. This means, if your fill volume (1 to 3 mls) results in the perfect restriction, this may not be the case several weeks or months later. A number of things determine the right fill such as your weight, (the more you weigh, the thicker your stomach is). As you lose weight and your stomach gets thinner, you may need a tighter adjustment. The adaptation of your esophagus and stomach also play a role in restriction. Sometimes when air is caught in your Lap band (when your band is new), the amount of fill may vary after a couple of weeks. Thus the liquid does not seep out, but air will diminish the total fill volume.
WHAT TO EXPECT
We perform fills under X-ray at our center. This will permit us to visualize the size of the fill and the level of tightness produced when we inflate the band. We do this by accessing the port under the skin with a thin needle. This is a quick and painless procedure. Once the port is accessed, we ask the patient to swallow the liquid barium that shows up under x-ray. You will marvel at seeing how the barium goes down your esophagus and then stops at the band. You will then see how your upper pouch (new stomach) fills, pauses, then slowly goes through and pasted the band. We measure how long it takes the barium to pass, which is how we determine we have the correct tightness giving you the amount of restriction, necessary for weight loss. The whole procedure takes only a few minutes.
We will expect you to be on liquids for hole week in order for you and your body to get used to your new fill. Some people will try eating solid food while driving or flying back home, they will have food get stuck, then it becomes a medical emergency to remove liquid from the band.
So after a fill, you must follow doctor’s orders!
Weight-loss surgery is a relatively new option for people suffering from morbid obesity. Using minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques, skilled surgeons conduct a variety of specialized weight-loss surgeries. The most common and effective bariatric (weight-loss) procedures are LapBand, Roux en Y, Duodenal Switch, and Vertical Gastrectomy.
FACT: Only about 3-5% of all people who attempt weight loss through diet and exercise programs are successful long term.
FACT: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) of the United States of America convened a consensus panel of experts on obesity and medical management of obese patients in 1991 and 1996. Their conclusion was that weight loss surgery in patients who have failed diet and exercise programs is the most effective and ONLY method which results in significant weight loss long term.
FACT: Patients who are morbidly obese have much higher rates of diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease than non-obese patients.
FACT: Each year approximately 300,000 individuals die from obesity related causes in the US. This number is second only to smoking.
FACT: Morbidly obese individuals are 5 times more likely to die prematurely than non-obese patients.
FACT: Following weight loss surgery, more than 90% of morbidly obese patients who also have associated medical problems such as diabetes or high blood pressure no longer require medication or treatment to control their diseases.
FACT: With an experienced surgeon and the appropriate operation, patients who undergo weight loss surgery lose an average of 60-80% of their excess weight.
Talking to your doctor openly and honestly about your weight is one of the best things you can do for your health. You’re likely to start by first seeing your primary care doctor. In some cases, you may be referred to an obesity specialist, if one is available in your area. You may also be referred to a mental health provider, dietitian or nutrition specialist.
What you can do
Being an active participant in your care can help your efforts to overcome obesity. One way to do this is by preparing for your appointment. Think about your needs and goals for treatment. Also, write down a list of questions to ask. These questions may include:
- Why can’t I get over obesity on my own?
- What other health problems might I have?
- What are the treatment options for obesity and my other health problems?
- Is weight-loss surgery an option for me?
- Will counseling help?
- Are there weight-loss medications that might help?
- How long will treatment take?
- What can I do to help myself?
- What Web sites do you recommend visiting?
In addition to your prepared questions, don’t hesitate to ask questions at any time during your appointment.
What to expect from your doctor
During your appointment, your doctor or other health provider is likely to ask you a number of questions about your eating, activity, mood and thoughts, and any symptoms you might have. You may be asked such questions as:
- What do you eat in a typical day
- How much activity do you get in a typical day?
- During what periods of your life did you gain weight?
- What are the factors that you believe affect your weight?
- How is your daily life affected by your obesity?
- How is your mood affected by your weight?
- What diets or treatments have you tried to lose weight?
- What other medical conditions, if any, do you have?
- Do you have any family members with weight problems?
- What are your weight-loss goals?
- Are you ready to make changes in your lifestyle to lose weight?
- What do you think might prevent you from losing weight?
- How committed are you to losing weight?
- What medications or over-the-counter herbs and supplements do you take?
What you can do in the meantime
If you have several days or weeks before your scheduled appointment, you can start making some changes on your own to your eating and activity levels as you begin the journey to lose weight.
Start making healthy changes in your diet, such as eating more fruits, vegetables and whole grains and reducing portion sizes. Eat breakfast.
Track how much you’re eating or drinking each day so you get a sense of how many calories you’re consuming. It’s easy to underestimate how many calories you actually consume every day.
Begin increasing your activity level. If possible, take some walks. Otherwise, simply try to get up and move around your home more frequently. Start gradually if you aren’t in good shape or aren’t used to exercising. If you have any health conditions, or if you’re a man over age 40 or a woman over age 50, talk to your doctor before you start a new exercise program.
Lifestyle and home remedies
Your effort to overcome obesity is more likely to be successful it you follow strategies at home in addition to your formal treatment plan. These can include:
Stick to your treatment plan. Changing a lifestyle you may have lived with for many years can be difficult. Be honest with your doctor, therapist or other health providers if you find your activity or eating goals slipping. You can work together to come up with new ideas or new approaches.
Take your medications as directed. If you take weight-loss medications or medications to treat obesity-related conditions, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, take them exactly as prescribed. If you have a problem sticking with your medication regimen or have unpleasant side effects, talk to your doctor.
Learn about your condition. Education about obesity can help you learn more about why you became obese and what you can do about it. You may feel more empowered to take control and stick to your treatment plan. Read reputable self-help books and consider talking about them with your doctor or therapist.
Enlist support. Get your family and friends on board with your weight-loss goals. Surround yourself with people who will support you and help you, not sabotage your efforts. Make sure they understand how important weight loss is to your health. You might also want to join a weight-loss support group.
Set realistic goals. When you have to lose a significant amount of weight, you may set goals that are unrealistic, such as trying to lose too much too fast. Don’t set yourself up for failure. Set daily or weekly goals for exercise and weight loss. Make small changes in your diet instead of attempting drastic changes that you’re not likely to stick with for the long haul.
Identify and avoid food triggers. Distract yourself from your desire to eat with something positive, such as calling a friend. Practice saying no to unhealthy foods and big portions. Eat when you’re actually hungry — not simply when the clock says it’s time to eat.
Keep a record. Keep a food and activity journal. This journal can help you remain accountable for your eating and exercise habits. You can discover behavior that may be holding you back and, conversely, what works well for you. You also can use the journal to track other important health parameters such as blood pressure, cholesterol levels and overall fitness.
Advantages of the Lap Band Surgery
Advantages of the Lap Band
• Safest weight loss operation
• Less invasive
• No cutting, stapling or rearranging of the intestines
• Adjustable
• Reversible
• Complications are fewer and less severe
• Vitamin needs are simple and vitamin deficiencies are rare
• Avoids unhealthy muscle wasting from protein deficiency
• No “dumping syndrome”
• No stretched out pouch causing weight regain
• Can be adjusted during pregnancy for adequate calories and vitamins
• Weight loss is healthier, slower and less likely to cause gallbladder problems
• Less expensive if you have to pay for your operation
• Outpatient in most cases