Morbid obesity
prevents many people
from living life to
the fullest. If you
haven't been able to
shed those extra
pounds with Atkins,
South Beach, or any
of today's other
popular diet plans,
the lap band system
may be able to help
you reach your
weight loss goals.
By creating a
smaller gastric
pouch, this type of
bariatric surgery
limits the amount of
food your stomach
will hold at any
time.
For morbidly obese
people who suffer
from diabetes,
hypertension, or
other
weight-related
medical concerns,
the lap band
procedure offers a
valuable weight loss
tool .When other
weight loss methods
have failed, lap
band gastric surgery
can produce
remarkable results.
Another Alternative
for Weight Loss
surgery is a
minimally invasive
surgery that
involves applying a
device (the Lap
Band) around the
stomach. Lap Band
procedure involves
placing a silicone
band around the
upper part of the
stomach to create a
small pouch that
holds limited
amounts of food.
When accompanied by
dietary and
lifestyle changes,
the Lap Band
procedure may
promote lifelong
weight loss
In the internal part
of the band that is
in direct contact
with the surface of
the stomach, exists
a balloon which is
inflated to be able
to modify the
diameter of the
exit, based on the
response by the
patient, in a way
that if it is
desired to close or
open more such exit,
this maneuver,
called “adjust the
band” could be done.
The Gastric Band
Adjustable system
Lap Band consists of
a device made of a
material compatible
to the digestive
system, which is
placed around the
superior part of the
stomach, dividing it
in two parts without
cutting it. The
small superior
portion of the
stomach can only
contain a small
amount of food.
The rest of the
stomach is found
underneath the band.
The two parts are
connected by a small
opening created by
the band. Food will
pass from the
superior part of the
stomach slowly,
which means that the
patient will feel
full during a longer
period of time
After surgery, you
must limit the
amount of fat in
your diet. You
should have no more
than three to four
teaspoons of
margarine, butter,
or oil per day.
Low-fat salad
dressing and
mayonnaise are
acceptable when
consumed in
moderation. High-fat
foods such as
chocolate, chips,
pies, and pastries
should be avoided.
Before you start
your weight loss
journey here are
some things you need
to know.
CONSIDERATIONS
-
You must
re-learn how to
eat slowly and
chew food very
well. Eating
too fast, too
much or don’t
chew our food
enough, you
will make the
you vomit. .
-
Success of
weight loss
with the
LapBand is 80%
dependent on
your commitment
to follow-up
with your
surgeon every
6-8 weeks for
at least the
first year.
Close
monitoring of
weight, eating
habits and
various
symptoms will
determine
whether you
need an
adjustment of
your band. This
is the only way
to assure
significant
long-term
weight loss. If
you do not
follow-up with
your surgeon,
you will not
lose weight.
-
Because the
LapBand is an
implantable
device, it does
carry the risk
of slippage
(causing
complete
blockage of the
gastric pouch)
or erosion into
the stomach
(causing weight
loss to stop).
In either of
these cases,
another
laparoscopic
surgery would
be required to
either
re-position the
band if it has
slipped, or
remove the band
if it has
eroded. This
occurs rarely,
but is a
possibility. In
our experience
we have not
seen these
problems, but
it can occur in
less than 1% of
the cases.
-
The LapBand is
not a perfect
solution and
will not result
in weight loss
if you start
eating an
excess of
chocolate or
high-calorie
drinks (such as
ice cream
shakes and
soda).
-
Although rare,
there can be
technical
problems with
the tube
kinking or
leaking, or the
reservoir
twisting. This
may require a
minor operation
to correct.
