Gastric band surgery or Lap band surgery Los Angeles is a kind of bariatric surgery procedure used for obese (significantly overweight people) people to lose weight. This type of procedure is reversible and adjustable. In this procedure, the surgeon places a special silicone band (known as a lap band) around your stomach. This procedure reduces the capacity of your stomach i.e. limiting and decreasing the amount of food you can eat per day.
How Does Lap Band Surgery Work?
Gastric band surgery or lap band surgery is a treatment to lose weight for significantly overweight people. The lab band is made of soft silicone, an adjustable and inflatable tube. In this procedure, the surgeon places a special silicone on the upper part of your stomach that forms a ring shape. The surgeon connects this inflatable ring to the port that is placed under your skin and can tighten the band to fit by accessing the skin port. He then injects enough saline fluids allowing a small outlet between the upper part and lower part of your stomach. The upper part of your stomach quickly gets full as you eat, thus limiting and reducing the amount of food you can eat per day.
Who Is Likely To Get Lap Band Surgery?
People suffering from a health problem related to obesity (significantly overweight people) and who want to lose weight are likely to get lap band surgery. This type of procedure is an option when other weight loss methods do not work i.e. dieting and exercise. Lap band surgery is less invasive, not permanent, has no division of the intestine or stomach, and has the lowest rate of complication as compared to other bariatric surgeries for weight loss. The lap band can also be removed if required.
But, lap band surgery does not lose enough weight as other bariatric surgery does and after the surgery, you need to frequently visit the doctor’s office for adjustment for at least one year.
How Much Weight Does Lap Band Surgery Lose?
Performing lap band surgery can lose about 40% of your total weight in 2 years. Also, the results depend on your commitment i.e. change in your lifestyle from eating to everything. But, lap band surgeries do not lose enough weight as other bariatric surgery does.
Can Lap Band Surgery Help Treat Conditions Related To Being Overweight?
Yes, performing lap band surgery helps treat conditions related to being overweight as it helps to reduce weight by reducing or decreasing the amount of food you can eat per day. But, lap band surgeries do not have the same effect on hormones and metabolism as other bariatric surgeries do. Those overweight-related conditions it can treat are as follows:
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
- Heart disease
- Type 2 diabetes
Who Is Qualified To Have Lap Band Surgery?
Your doctor will suggest you have lap band surgery if your
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BMI (body mass index) is at 40 or more:
BMI is a measurement of body fat based on the height-to-weight ratio. If your BMI is at 40 or more, you are at higher risk of overweight-related conditions
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BMI (body mass index) is at 36 or lower:
If your BMI is at 36 or lower, you fall under class II obesity. You still need to undergo bariatric surgery as it is regarded as clinically severe.
The doctor will perform several medical screening processes to check whether you are healthy enough for lap band surgery. You also will undergo many physical exams, imaging tests of your abdomen, and blood tests. This kind of bariatric surgery is not suitable for those who smoke a lot, drink a lot, or overuse opioids.
Is lap band surgery a major surgery?
Lap band surgery is not a major surgery as the whole process is a minimally invasive procedure that does not require a large incision on your abdomen. Like other bariatric surgeries, the lap band is adjustable and involves minimally-invasive methods or laparoscopic surgery. The time of procedure and recovery it takes is relatively short.
What Should You Eat After Lap Band Surgery?
Your doctor will suggest you start with a liquid diet for the first few weeks. Then, you can continue with semi solid food for a couple of weeks, and move on to regular solid food. Make sure to eat foods containing high fiber to get enough nutrition and also chew the food well. This method gives time for your stomach to completely heal and recover. Therefore it is important to follow your doctor’s advice well and avoid overeating as it can cause vomiting and nausea.
You also need to visit your doctor’s office often for the very first year after the surgery for adjusting your lap band. When you lose some weight, the lap band will become loose. To continue with the weight loss process, the doctor will tighten the band. You will also undergo a blood test and several physical examinations to check whether you are getting enough nutrition or not on your new diet. Also, your doctor will prescribe supplements if needed.
