1.
Q: Will I be sick a lot after the operation?
The LAP-BAND® System limits food intake. If you feel nauseated
or sick on a regular basis, it may mean that you are not chewing
your food well or that you are not following the diet rules
properly. However, it could also mean that there is a problem
with the placement of the band so you should contact us if this
problem persists. Vomiting should be avoided as much as possible.
It can cause the small stomach pouch to stretch. It can also
lead to slippage of part of the stomach through the band, which
would reduce the success of the operation. In some cases, it
would also require another operation.
2. Q: How long will it take to recover after
surgery?
The LAP-BAND surgery is performed laparoscopically and is typically
done as an outpatient in a day surgery setting. This laproscopic
procedure takes about one hour to perform under general anesthesia.
Patients begin drinking liquids and are walking within one to
two hours after surgery. It takes most patients about a week
to return to work and a month
to
six weeks to resume exercising. In the case of open surgery
or if there are complications, recovery may take longer.
3. Q: How much weight will I lose?
Weight-loss results vary from patient to patient, and the amount
of weight you may lose depends on several things. The band needs
to be in the right position, and you need to be committed to
your new lifestyle and eating habits. Obesity surgery is not
a miracle cure, and the pounds won’t come off by themselves.
It is very important to set achievable weight-loss goals from
the beginning. A weight loss of 2 to 3 pounds a week in the
first year after the operation is possible, but one pound a
week is more likely. Twelve to eighteen months after the operation,
weekly weight loss is usually less. Remember that you should
lose weight gradually. Losing weight too fast creates a health
risk and can lead to a number of problems. Your main goal is
to have weight loss that prevents, improves, or resolves health
problems connected with severe obesity.
4. Q: How do the weight-loss results
with the LAP-BAND compare to those with the gastric bypass?
You should focus on long-term weight
loss and remember that it is important to lose weight gradually
while reducing obesity-related risks and improving your health.
Gastric bypass patients loose weight faster because of the malabsorptive
component of the bypass surgery. However, at two to three years
post-op, the Lap-Band patients may approach the same weight
loss.
5. Q: Does the LAP-BAND require frequent
office visits after surgery?
Check-ups are a normal and a very important part of the LAP-BAND
System follow-up. Frequent post-op visits have been shown to
result in better weight loss. Bad eating habits can be addressed
and changed. Also during these post-op visits, adjustments
(band fills) are
performed
to
drive
the weight
loss.
6. Q: Does the LAP-BAND limit any physical
activity?
The LAP-BAND does not affect or hamper physical activity including
aerobics, stretching and strenuous exercise.
7. Q: How is the band adjusted?
A fine needle is passed through the skin into the access port to add or subtract
saline. This process most often takes only a few minutes. Most
patients say it is nearly painless. It may take place in the doctor's office, at an outpatient "Fill Center" clinic under Flouroscopy X-ray or in an AfterCare program setting.
8. Q: Do I have to be careful with the
access port just underneath my skin?
There are no restrictions based on the access port. It is placed
under the skin and stitched in place to the abdominal wall muscle. Once the incisions
have healed, it should not cause discomfort or limit your movements
or any physical exercise. The only sensation you may have from
the port is when you go in for adjustments. If you feel persistent
discomfort in the port area, let us know as soon as possible.
9. Q: Can the band be removed?
Although the LAP-BAND® System is not meant to be removed, it
can be. In most cases, this can be done laparoscopically. The
stomach generally returns to its original shape once the band
is removed. After the removal, though, you may soon go back to your old eating habits and regain your
weight or even more. You always want to keep your band in place and well adjusted to keep you accountable.
10. Q: Will I need plastic surgery for the
surplus skin when I have lost a lot of weight?
That is not always the case. As a rule, plastic surgery will
not be considered for at least a year or two after the operation.
Sometimes the skin will contract and mold itself around the new body tissue.
You should give the skin the time it needs to adjust before
you decide to have more surgery.
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