Lap Band Surgery Overview
Understanding what is lap band surgery and what is gastric banding is very important if you are considering weight loss surgery. This article will explain in brief everything that you should be looking at when it come to Lap-Band. Lap band surgery is probably the most popular type of gastric band surgery for weight loss. In this procedure, the upper portion of the stomach is wrapped with a ring to form a small pouch. The formed pouch will serve as the functional part of the stomach where the food ingested will be stored. The pouch leaves only a small room for food intake; in turn the body gets to digest only a small amount of food and prevent accumulating excess pounds.
The Lap Band System
The Lap Band system is an adjustable gastric band used in a lap-band surgery procedure. This device has been approved by the FDA since 1984. It is made of a silicone belt that is wrapped around the upper portion of the stomach. The whole procedure is restrictive and reversible; by the end of the surgery the stomach is minimized to the size of a golf ball. The smaller storage space of stomach offers room for only one ounce of food. The Lap band system not only aims to decrease fat intake, but also reduce appetite and eventually lose weight.
The gastric band in this surgery is adjustable. It is linked to a port that can be filled with saline to expedite weight loss. Reducing the saline content of the port causes the band to loosen. This way, side effects of the surgery would be alleviated.
Candidates for Lap Band Surgery
Not all people who are trying to lose weight may undergo Lap band surgery. It usually serves as an option for individuals who are classified as morbidly obese. Persons who also find it difficult to lose weight through diet and exercise may also go for Lap band surgery.
Individuals who have a body mass index of 40 and above are recommended to undergo the procedure. According to the standards set by the National Institutes of Health, persons with this body mass index are 80 to 100 pounds overweight and should therefore seek weight loss management procedures.
Persons who are suffering from diseases related to obesity such as high-blood pressure and diabetes are recommended to undergo Lap band surgery. It may also be used as a procedure for those who find it risky to undergo invasive gastric bypass surgery.
Not all obese individuals may undergo Lap band surgery. Persons who are currently suffering inflammatory diseases in the gastrointestinal tract or severe cardio-respiratory illnesses are not qualified for this procedure. Those who also have distorted gastrointestinal organs are not allowed to undergo Lap band surgery.
Women may plan to conceive after Lap band surgery; however, they cannot take the procedure during the course of pregnancy.
Lap Band Procedure
Unlike other types of surgery, the Lap-Band procedure lasts for about one hour and is done under general anesthesia. These days, adjustable gastric banding surgeries are performed via laparoscopy. The surgeon will make only a few incisions and inserts a small camera to get a better view of the stomach in which the gastric band will be placed. This procedure proves to be more effective and takes lesser time to recover; it is also proven to be cheaper on the budget.
The traditional open surgery is still used by some surgeons on certain types of patients. These include individuals who cannot accommodate laparoscopic procedures due to obesity.
The gastric band used to reduce the size of the stomach can be adjusted later on. This can be done by filling or emptying the saline port of the band. The amount of saline in the port changes the size of the passage of food in the stomach, and it gets empty in four to six weeks after surgery.
The Lap band procedure may be reversed whenever deemed necessary.
How to Prepare for Lap Band Surgery
It is easier to prepare for surgery as compared to other weight loss management programs. However, it also requires commitment and determination on the individual’s part in terms of losing weight. Some people experience intense weight gain even after surgery mainly because they were not able to follow maintenance procedures such as diet and exercise.
When preparing for Lap band surgery, it is best to practice eating in smaller servings. This helps in adjusting the stomach and appetite to reduced food intake. Small, balanced meals rich in fiber and vitamins help a lot in keeping the stomach satiated yet at the same time nourished. Drinking fluids also help in keeping the stomach full for longer hours during the day.
Persons who intend to undergo Lap band surgery must also quit vices such as smoking and alcohol. Smoking may interfere with the recovery process of lap band surgery, the same goes with alcohol. Working on moderate exercise programs is thus recommended when getting ready for surgery.
Costs of Lap Band Surgery
One thing to prepare for in a Lap band surgery is the cost. It can be very expensive to undergo such procedure. The surgery however is now covered by most insurance policies especially when the individual has been recommended to take the procedure.
It normally costs between $12,000 and $30,000 to undergo La-band surgery; these however can be completed through installment payments or loans depending on the package applied for by the patient.
Recovering from Lap Band Surgery
After undergoing a Lap band surgery, patients are recommended to take plenty of rest for a few weeks. This is to speed up the recovery process and adjustment to reduced food intake. It is best to drink a lot of fluids to keep the stomach full and not crave for different foods. It is also recommended to eat slowly so that foods will be easily digested.
It is quite normal to experience vomiting especially when the stomach easily gets full during eating. Vomiting may be prevented by means of eating slowly. Surgeons usually prescribe a low-calorie diet after the surgery which has to be followed strictly to reduce problems involving the gastric band.
Walking is a good exercise for those who have undergone Lap band surgery. Walking allows the body to get used to the gastric band and prevents blood clots from taking place in the stomach.
Weight loss results begin to be realized four to six weeks after surgery; individuals who underwent the procedure will soon be able to lose one to two pounds per week or up to 75 pounds during their first year with the band.
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