Lapband Surgery Facts And Information

By Matthew Hall


Over the years, many people have struggled with obesity. While the best mode of treatment remains lifestyle modification, over time more and more people have opted for surgical options. Among the most used surgical options is lapband surgery, also called gastric banding. There are many fundamental pieces of information about this procedure that one should know before considering it.

The procedure involves placement of an adjustable belt on the upper part of the stomach using a laparoscope. The band is made of silicone and can get tightened by adding salt to it so that the band is filled. The band is normally connected to some port that is put within the abdomen, under the skin. This port is used to introduce or remove saline into the band.

Ultimately, this procedure restricts stomach size and thus the amount of food it is able to hold. It will also slow down the food passage into the intestines. In so doing, signals to the brain that come from the gut will allow for a sensation of fullness. One will thus consume less food. The signal is usually sent from a small pouch that is created by the band at the upper section of the stomach. When this pouch gets filled, the same signal will be sent to the brain.

The procedure is done under full general anesthesia and goes for one or two hours. It gets performed through a laparoscopic method that will involve the surgeon making 3 to 5 incisions that are small. These incisions are about an inch in length. There then is the insertion of a small camera within one incision to have a view of the stomach on the screen. This camera gets attached to a tube. The function of remaining incisions is to allow the doctor to use surgical instruments and also for placement of the band.

Proper preparation for the procedure is important. Depending on your surgeon or the program, preparation varies. Most institutions will want to see commitment from their patients as regards lifestyle changes. This should be before the surgical procedure. The patient may be required to start eating 5 to 6 small meals daily for preparation of changes ahead. They will be required to keep off high calorie foods like milk shakes or ice cream.

The recovery will vary with an individual. Generally, however, this procedure offers short hospitalization and quicker recovery as compared to other gastric procedures. Most people will get back to work one week. This is if the work is not so physically demanding. Normal activity will normally resume after about 6 weeks.

After you come from the procedure, there might be a feeling of discomfort or pain but this is easily controlled using medications. After 6 to 8 weeks, any discomfort ends and normalcy resumes. At first, weight loss will be very rapid but this slows down after some time. In total, one will lose about 40 percent of what their weight was.

There are a few side effects that you should expect. These include nausea, vomiting, ulceration at the band site and dehydration. It is also possible for a patient to experience weight regain.




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