Important Things You Need To Know About Lap Band Surgery

Lap Band Surgery, Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding

Lap band surgery is one of the most popular weight loss treatments. Most people who are suffering from severe obesity opt for lap band surgery to lose excess weight.

One of the common health problems that seem to be a growing concern for many individuals out there is obesity. Statistics reveal that nearly 30 percent of Americans are obese, with the number slated to increase dramatically in the coming years.

Hence many individuals are looking for different ways to lose excess weight. One of the most common and most effective options for treating morbid obesity is the lap band surgery.

Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding (LAGB), also known as Lap Band Surgery, is a medical procedure wherein an adjustable belt or silicone band is inserted around the stomach’s upper portion. The belt can either be tightened or loosened by adding or removing saline from the band (like blowing air into a balloon or releasing it). A port placed just under the skin near the abdomen acts as the opening through which saline is either introduced into the band or removed from it.

When operational the band would start to restrict the stomach size as well as the amount of food it can hold. The band also helps in slowing down the passage of food from the stomach to the intestines, thereby giving the individual a feeling of fullness for longer periods. This fights obesity. If you are opting for Lap-Band Riverside surgery, here are some important things you must know beforehand.

Understanding The Procedure

The procedure involves making several small incisions in the belly and then placing surgical tools as well as a camera in these incisions. A device is then wrapped around the upper portion of the stomach in the form of a ring. A thin tube protruding from the ring would lead to the access port that is placed under the skin. This is the area through which saline is inserted or removed with the help of a needle. When saline is added, the band tightens, making the stomach smaller.

However, the band would not be inflated for about 6 weeks after surgery in order to let the surgical site heal properly. Lap band surgery helps obese people achieve significant weight loss in less time and reduces the risk of obesity related health problems.

What To Expect

Pain medication is usually prescribed to the individuals who have just undergone lap band surgery. Proper lab tests are done to see if the wounds are healing properly and if the band is in place. For more information see. The doctor would give specific instructions pertaining to the type of diet for the first few days after the surgery. Individuals are encouraged to drink lots of water in order to avoid dehydration. They can also expect a change in bowel movements, and are usually advised to avoid straining too much during the same. Solid foods would need to be reintroduced into the diet slowly.

Patients are advised to stop eating as soon as they feel full and chew their food properly in order to avoid feeling nauseous. They would also need to work along with a nutritionist in order to come up with a diet plan that would enable them to get all the necessary proteins, minerals and vitamins needed by the body while losing weight.

Once solid food is introduced into the diet again, the doctor would start to adjust the band by inserting saline via a needle in the port. As the band inflates, it would start to tighten around the stomach. Several adjustments can be made to the band throughout the course of the treatment in order to reduce the desired amount of weight.

As is the case of any surgical procedure, lap band surgery can cause some side effects in individuals who opt for the procedure. The most common of these side effects include band slippage, problems related to the access port, obstruction of food passage, esophageal dilation and nutritional deficiencies.

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