Questions About Lap Band
Surgery
What
is a Lap-Band?
Who is Lap Band Surgery Designed For?
What Are the Benefits of a Lap-Band?
What Are the Health Risks of a Lap-Band?
When Should a Lap-Band Not be Used?
Are There Complications if a Patient Plans on Getting Pregnant?
How Long Does a Patient Stay in Hospital?
What Consequences to Expect After Lap Band Surgery?
Is There Scarring After Lap Band Surgery?
What is a Lap-Band?
The Lap-Band® System is a surgically
implanted device used to help a person lose weight. During surgery, the
lap-band is placed around the upper part of the stomach, creating a small
pouch that can hold only a small amount of food. The narrowed opening
between the stomach pouch and the rest of the stomach controls how quickly
food passes from the pouch to the lower part of the stomach. The system
helps the patient eat less by limiting the amount of food that can be
eaten at one time and increasing the time it takes for food to be digested.
Depending on the patient’s needs, after
the device is implanted the narrowed opening between the pouch and the
lower part of the stomach can be adjusted in size by inflating or deflating
the hollow band. Inflating the band makes the opening smaller, causing
food to pass more slowly. Deflating the band makes it wider, causes food
to pass more quickly. This adjustment is made by adding or removing fluid
inside the hollow band. The doctor does this by injecting or removing
the fluid through a small button-like part called the access port. This
access port is placed under the skin in a muscle in the chest wall. The
port is connected to the band by the tubing.
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Who is Lap Band Surgery
Designed For?
The lap-band® system is used for weight
loss in severely obese adults who have been obese for at least five years
and for whom non-surgical weight loss methods have not been successful.
They must be willing to make major changes in their eating habits and
lifestyle. Patients must have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of at least 40,
a BMI of at least 35 with one or more severe morbid (unhealthy) conditions,
or be at least 100 pounds over their estimated ideal weight.
What Are the Benefits of
a Lap-Band?
It may help the patient lose weight. In the
U.S. study, the average weight loss was 36 percent of a patient’s
excess weight three years after the device was implanted. More than half
of the patients lost at least 25 percent of their excess weight; some
patients lost over 75 percent, but some lost no weight.
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What Are the Health Risks
of a Lap-Band?
Most weight loss surgery patients experienced
at least one side effect. Common side effects include nausea and vomiting,
heartburn, abdominal pain, and slippage of the band. The most serious
side effects required either another operation or hospitalization.
When Should a Lap-Band Not
be Used?
It should not be used for people who are
poor candidates for weight loss surgery, have certain stomach or intestinal
disorders, have an infection, have to take aspirin frequently, or are
addicted to alcohol or drugs. It should not be used on patients who are
not able or willing to follow the rules for diet and exercise that are
recommended by the doctor after weight loss surgery.
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Are There Complications
if a Patient Plans on Getting Pregnant?
No, in fact lap band weight loss surgery
may increase your chances of becoming pregnant.
How Long Does a Patient
Stay in Hospital?
Lap Band surgery is performed under a general
anesthetic and takes about 75 minutes. Because it is a mini-invasive surgical
procedure, the patient normally spends a total of 3 days in the hospital,
and can generally resume their activities and be back at work within one
week if need be.
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What Consequences to Expect
After Lap Band Surgery?
After surgery, patients need to learn new
dietary habits. While this new eating pattern is being established, they
should expect some episodes of vomiting. For up to three days after surgery
in the hospital, only small amounts of clear liquids will be allowed.
Solid foods will not be introduced until clear liquids and soft foods
can be consumed. The progression to solids is slow and varies among patients.
Is There Scarring After
Lap Band Surgery?
Since laparoscopic surgery is mini-invasive,
there is minimal scarring. Typically, patients have 5 to 6 small incisions
that usually heal quickly.
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Source:
FDA
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Weight
Loss Surgery Information
How
Weight Loss Surgery Works - Morbid
Obesity - Morbid
Obesity Surgery
Treatment of Obesity
- Bariatric
Surgery Health Risks - Abdominoplasty
Gastric Banding - Gastric
Bypass - Mini
Gastric Bypass - Gastroplasty
Laparoscopic
Gastric Bypass - Roux
En Y Gastric Bypass - Lap
Band Surgery
Lap Band - Lap
Band FAQs - Biliopancreatic
Diversion - Duodenal
Switch
Liposuction - Liposuction
Surgery - Superwet
Liposuction - Tumescent
Ultrasonic Liposuction
- Tummy Tuck - Mini
Tummy Tuck - Stomach
Stapling
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