Lap band surgery in Texas
How lap band surgery helps people lose weight
Laparoscopic adjustable banding, or the lap band procedure, utilizes a band, a “belt” with a balloon on the inside. It is placed around the upper part of the stomach, creating a small “pouch.” The band works by restricting intake and makes you feel full after eating only a small amount of food. There is no removing or re-positioning of the intestines, though having laparoscopic adjustable banding surgery means that the band must be adjusted on a regular basis to be successful. The band is put in “empty” and is progressively tightened to increase restriction and allow for more weight loss.
There are two different types of bands available today. The LAP-BAND ® has been used in the United States since 2001. The REALIZE ® Band was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2007.
What to expect with the band after laparoscopic band surgery
Almost all patients who have had laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding procedures are able to go home the same day. After getting the band, you are asked to stay on a liquid diet for three weeks after surgery. This allows the band to set into place.
Adjustments or “fills” are done every three to four weeks after your operation until you achieve the right fit. This may be a moving target because the stomach can shrink as a person starts to lose weight. The stomach may also get used to a certain level of tightness, so what seems tight at two months may feel loose at six months.
It is critically important that you honor your commitment to yourself and the band and keep those monthly appointments. After the first year, these appointments are usually able to be spaced out. We recommend that band patients to be involved in medical weight loss concurrently. A lap band procedure is NOT a metabolic surgery and requires maximum participation in a program to achieve results.
Once the most popular weight loss surgery in San Antonio, lap band surgery is being performed less and less. There are many reasons for this. Data has shown that the revision and reoperation rate can be as high as 40 percent in some studies. While we do not currently perform lap band surgery at BMI of Texas, we do help patients who have had this procedure and are happy to discuss potential options.
If you would like more information or have more questions about gastric banding in San Antonio, please contact us today or watch a free seminar!