Facts And Information About Lapband Surgery

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.

This procedure involves placement of a belt that is adjustable around the upper stomach area. This is done using what is called a laparoscope. The band is manufactured from silicone and can be tightened by adding saline to fill the band. The band is then connected to a port that is placed under skin in the abdominal area. This port is used for introducing or removing saline as is needed.

The main aim of the procedure is for restricting size of your stomach and also the amount of food that it is able to hold. It also gets to slow down passage of food into intestines. By doing this, signals will be sent to the brain by the gut to give the sensation of fullness, which makes one eat less. The signal is sent from the small pouch created by the the band at upper sections of the stomach. When this pouch is full, there is sending of a signal that is sent to the brain.

The procedure happens under full general anesthesia and will take between one and two hours. It is performed using laparoscopic technique which involves making between 3 to 5 very minute incisions. The incisions are approximately 1 inch in length. The surgeon will insert a small camera into one of the incisions to view the procedure on a screen. The camera is attached to a tube. The remaining incisions will allow for use of surgical instruments and placement of the band.

Preparing well for the procedure will be key. Depending on the program one goes for or the surgeon in question, preparation will be varied. The majority of institutions look to first see how committed the patient is when it comes to change in lifestyle. The patient will be expected to start by eating 5 to 6 very small meals every day in preparation for changes ahead. High calorie foods like ice cream or milk shakes should be avoided.

Recovery varies from one individual to the next. Generally however, the procedure offers relatively shorter hospitalization period and much quicker recovery. Actually, many people will be able to get back to normal work within a week. This is possible if the work is not so demanding. Normal activities can resume after 6 weeks.

After the procedure is done, you might feel some discomfort which is however easy to control using medications. After 6 to 8 weeks, normal activity resumes. The process of weight loss is however gradual. In the beginning stages, loss is more dramatic. However, it slows dramatically over time. In most cases, weight loss will be 40 percent of what total 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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