What to Expect with the LAP-BAND®
Find out what you could expect with the LAP-BAND® weight loss program.
Find out if the LAP-BAND® is right for you:
Your new life begins here.
Losing weight isn’t easy. Ineffective weight loss solutions can be disappointing, and downright discouraging. The good news is, you’re still working towards finding a solution. You’re determined and motivated to transform your life and make a long-lasting change. It’s time to take the next steps in your weight loss journey, and learn about a weight loss solution that just might be the one for you.
Moment of Realization
Is it time to make a change? You deserve to be happy, healthy, and confident. Feeling comfortable in your own skin is a feeling that you can experience. You can take control of your life – and you don’t have to do it alone. Your moment of realization can provide you with the motivation to find a weight loss solution that works.
The Procedure
After consulting with a LAP-BAND Specialist to determine if LAP-BAND is right for you, the next step is the procedure. The gastric band procedure is done laparoscopically, so only a few small incisions are made in the abdomen. The surgeon will carefully place and secure the gastric band around the upper part of your stomach, and connect it to an access port for adjustments. The procedure itself takes about an hour, and most patients can return home quickly.
Recovery
It’s important that you take things slowly in the days immediately following your procedure. Small sips of water and gradually reintroducing liquids into your diet is recommended. Over the first few weeks, you will work back towards your regular life. You should take things slowly and progress at a rate that is comfortable for you. Keep in contact with your support team for any questions. Several weeks after the procedure, you will have an appointment for the first adjustment to the band.
Lifechanging Results
The LAP-BAND® System is a tool that can help to reduce your hunger urges by helping you feel full faster and stay full longer.
Your team of LAP-BAND® specialists will provide you with encouragement and guidance while you adapt to new behaviors. A healthy lifestyle includes a well-balanced and nutritious diet and regular exercise. By breaking bad habits, and adapting to new healthy ones, you can enjoy your weight loss results for years to come.
STEP 1: Guidance from a Weight Loss Expert.
Exploring the LAP-BAND® can help to ease your worries and enhance your comfortability. It’s important that you feel confident in your decision to lose weight with help from the LAP-BAND®. During a consultation, a LAP-BAND® specialist can provide you with information about the gastric band and help you determine if you are medically qualified for the weight loss system. If the LAP-BAND® is an optimal weight loss solution for you, then you can begin preparing for your procedure. One month before the procedure you will need to ensure all your paperwork is filled out, ask your physician any additional questions, and schedule ideal recovery time.
STEP 2: The Gastric Banding Procedure
Congratulations! Today is the first day of your brand-new life. It’s important that you stay relaxed and stick to the pre-procedure diet that your physician informed you of. You should aim to be at the hospital on time, or even early. This can help you to feel prepared and stay calm. Make sure to bring a small hospital bag with you so that you feel comfortable. You can bring items like loose clothing, slippers, something to read, or even a pillow. You should have a close friend or family member drive you to and from the hospital. Now – get ready! It’s time to begin your transformation!
STEP 3: Recovery and Relaxation.
After your procedure, you will be encouraged to take very small sips of water or even suck on an ice cube for hydration. Over the following days, you can slowly reintroduce thin, broth-type liquids. You should be walking around the house as much as you can, to help regain your strength and prevent any post-procedure complications.
Over the following weeks, your diet will progress from a complete liquid diet, to pureed foods, and then soft foods. It’s normal to find some discomfort while adapting to life with the LAP-BAND®. Regular communication with your support team will help to monitor your progress.
Losing the weight, gaining a new life.
It’s time to enjoy the results of your new, healthy lifestyle. Your team of LAP-BAND® specialists will be with you every step of the way as you incorporate and adapt to a well-balanced diet and healthy portion control. Incorporating regular exercise and finding new ways to stay active will slowly become a part of your regular routine. But for now, it’s important to focus on yourself and achieving your weight loss goals.
“The LAP-BAND® didn’t do it for me,
it was a tool.”
Michelle
The LAP-BAND® System isn’t a quick-fix. You must work hard for your results with help from the gastric band. Simple changes like eating your food slowly and only drinking low-calorie liquids can greatly improve your results and long-term success.
“Don’t try
to do it alone.”
Carin
The LAP-BAND® is a tool that can help you achieve long-lasting weight loss. The gastric band will limit the amount of food you can eat at one time to help encourage healthy portion control, while support during your aftercare program will inspire you to live a healthy lifestyle.
“It drastically changed my life
for the better…”
Karen
Weight loss after a gastric banding procedure has been shown to improve or resolve health conditions such as: asthma, hypertension, sleep apnea, and GERD. You can experience many benefits simply by providing your body with a nutritious and well-balanced diet.1-4
Ask an expert what to expect.
A LAP-BAND® specialist can help you explore the steps leading up to and following the LAP-BAND® procedure.
Find out if it's right for you.
Significant and gradual weight loss is possible with the right weight loss program. Find out if the LAP-BAND® is right for you.
Important LAP-BAND® System Safety Information
The LAP-BAND® System is indicated for weight reduction for patients with obesity, with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of at least 40 kg/m2 or a BMI of at least 30 kg/m2 with one or more obesity-related comorbid conditions. It is indicated for use only in adult patients who have failed more conservative weight reduction alternatives, such as supervised diet, exercise and behavior modification programs. Patients who elect to have this surgery must make the commitment to accept significant changes in their eating habits for the rest of their lives.
The LAP-BAND® System is not recommended for non-adult patients, patients with conditions that may make them poor surgical candidates or increase the risk of poor results, who are unwilling or unable to comply with the required dietary restrictions, or who currently are or may be pregnant.
The LAP-BAND® System is a long-term implant. Explant and replacement surgery may be required. Patients who become pregnant or severely ill, or who require more extensive nutrition may require deflation of their bands. Anti-inflammatory agents, such as aspirin, should be used with caution and may contribute to an increased risk of band erosion.
Placement of the LAP-BAND® System is major surgery and, as with any surgery, death can occur. Possible complications include the risks associated with the medications and methods used during surgery, the risks associated with any surgical procedure, and the patient’s ability to tolerate a foreign object implanted in the body. Most common related adverse events include: Band slippage, pouch dilation, stoma obstruction, gastroesophageal reflux, esophageal dilation, cholelithiasis, incisional infection, abdominal pain, gastroenteritis, or nausea and vomiting may occur. Reoperation may be required. Rapid weight loss may result in complications that may require additional surgery. Deflation of the band may alleviate excessively rapid weight loss or esophageal dilation.
Important: For full safety information please click here, talk with your doctor.
CAUTION: Rx only.
References:
- Dixon John, Chapman Leon, O'Brien Paul. Marked Improvement in Asthma after LAP-BAND® Surgery for Morbid Obesity. Obesity Surgery. 1999.
- Dixon John, O'Brien Paul. Health Outcomes of Severely Obese Type 2 Diabetic Subjects 1 Year After Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding. Diabetes Care, Volume 25, Number 2. February 2002.
- Dixon John, Schachter Linda, O'Brien Paul. Sleep Disturbance and Obesity: Changes Following Surgically Induced Weight Loss. Arch Intern Med/Vol 161. Jan 8, 2001.
- Dixon John, O'Brien Paul. Gastroesophageal Reflux in Obesity: The Effect of LAP-BAND® Placement. Obesity Surgery. 1999.