FAQ – The LAP-BAND®
System
Q: Will I be sick a lot after
the operation?
A: 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.
Q: How long will it take to
recover after surgery?
A: If LAP-BAND surgery is
performed laparoscopically, patients typically spend less than
24 hours in the hospital. 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.
Q: How much weight will I lose?
A: 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.
Q: How do the weight-loss results with the
LAP-BAND compare to those with the gastric bypass?
A: 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.
Q: Does the LAP-BAND require
frequent office visits after surgery?
A: Check-ups are a normal and a
very important part of the LAP-BAND System follow-up. You will
be monitored monthly to ensure proper and safe weight loss.
Q: Does the LAP-BAND limit any
physical activity?
A: The LAP-BAND® does
not affect or hamper physical activity including aerobics,
stretching and strenuous exercise.
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Q: How is the band adjusted?
A: Adjustments are often carried
out in the X-ray department. They are done there so the access
port can be clearly seen. When X-rays are used, your
reproductive organs should be shielded. Sometimes adjustments
can be done in an outpatient clinic or office. Local anesthesia
may or may not be needed. 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.
Q: Do I have to be careful with
the access port just underneath my skin?
A: There are no restrictions
based on the access port. It is placed under the skin in the
abdominal wall, and 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.
Q: Can the band be removed?
A: Although the LAP-BAND®
System is not meant to be removed, it can be. In some 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 up to your original weight or even
gain more.
Q: Will I need plastic surgery
for the surplus skin when I have lost a lot of weight?
A: 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 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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Q: Is it true that the LAP-BAND®
seems “tighter” in the morning?
A: This is a fairly common
feeling, especially for people with bands that are tight or just
after an adjustment. During the day the water content in the
body changes and this may cause the band to feel “tighter” some
of the time. Some women have also noticed that the LAP-BAND®
feels tighter during menstruation.
Q: Will I feel hungry or
deprived with the LAP-BAND®?
A: The LAP-BAND® makes
you eat less and feel full in two ways – by reducing the
capacity of your stomach and increasing the time it takes food
to get through the digestive system. After a small meal, the
amount of which varies from person to person, you should feel
full. If you follow the nutrition guidelines when you choose
your food and then chew it well, you should not feel hungry or
deprived. Remember that the LAP-BAND® is a tool to
help you change your eating habits.
Q: What will happen if I become
ill?
A: One of the major advantages of
the LAP-BAND® System is that it can be adjusted. If
your illness requires you to eat more, the band can be loosened
by removing saline from it. When you have recovered from your
illness and want to lose weight again, the band can be tightened
by increasing the amount of saline. If the band cannot be
loosened enough, it may have to be removed.
Q: What about pregnancy?
A: Becoming pregnant can be easier
as you lose weight. Your menstrual cycle may become more
regular. If you need to eat more while you are pregnant, the
band can be loosened. After the pregnancy, the band may be made
tighter again, and you can resume losing weight.
Q: Will I need to take vitamin
supplements?
A: You may. It’s possible you may
not get enough vitamins from three small meals a day. At your
regular check-ups, your specialist will evaluate whether you are
getting enough vitamin B12, folic acid, and iron.
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Q: What about other medication?
A: You should be able to take
prescribed medication. You may need to use capsules, break big
tablets in half or dissolve them in water so they do not get
stuck in the stoma and make you sick. You should always ask the
doctor who prescribes the drugs about this.
Q: What if I go out to eat?
A: Order only a small amount of
food, such as an appetizer. Eat slowly. Finish at the same time
as your table companions. You might want to let your host or
hostess know in advance that you cannot eat very much.
Q: What about alcohol?
A: Alcohol has a high number of
calories. It also breaks down vitamins. An occasional glass of
wine or other alcoholic beverage, though, is not considered
harmful to weight loss1.
Q: Can I eat anything in
moderation?
A: After your stomach has healed,
you may eat most foods that don’t cause you discomfort. However,
because you can only eat a little it is important to include
foods full of important vitamins and nutrients such as those
recommended in the nutrition section of this booklet and as
advised by your surgeon and/or dietitian. If you eat foods that
contain lots of sugar and fat or drink liquids full of “empty”
calories, such as milkshakes, the effect of the LAP-BAND®
may be greatly reduced or cancelled.
Q: Will I suffer from
constipation?
A: There may be some reduction in
the volume of your stools, which is normal after a decrease in
food intake because you eat less fiber. This should not cause
you severe problems. If difficulties do arise, let us know as
soon as possible.
One final point:
It is
important that you ask us all the questions you have about
obesity surgery and the LAP-BAND® System.
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1. Dixon J., Dixon A., O’Brien P.
Light to Moderate Alcohol Consumption: Obesity and the
Metabolic Syndrome. Am J Bariatric Medicine 2002;
17(4): 11-14.
