Lap Bands Surgery
Obesity is an epidemic and kills approximately 400,000 Americans each year. The mortality rate from being obese is second only to deaths from smoking. The increase every year is startling and many are desperate to lose the weight. As a result of desperation many are tired of failed fad diets, and are ready to try what just a few short years ago was a radical solution. Today many are interested in either a gastric bypass or lap bands surgery.
When speaking of a lap bands surgery, a simple, non technical way to explain it is to think of a rubber band being inserted around the top of your stomach. This "rubber band" will reduce your stomach capacity, and limit the amount of food that can be consumed at one time.
In more technical terms you can state that the name lap band comes from the surgical technique used, laparoscopy, and the name of the implanted medical device, gastric band. The insert is a silicone ring designed to be placed around the upper part of the stomach, and then it is fulled with saline.
This band creates a new, smaller stomach pouch that can only hold a small amount of food, so the food storage in the stomach is reduced. This band also controls the stoma, or the stomach outlet between the new upper pouch and the lower part of the stomach. When the stomach is smaller, you feel full faster. The end result is that you want to eat much less, and you end up thinner because you consume less calories.
The most common operation today only makes small incisions, and inserting the needed objects with long shafted instruments. The operation is done using tiny cameras which guide the surgeon and enables them to place the small band around the upper stomach.
This band limits your ability, or desire to eat as much. Next the surgeon will run tiny tubing beneath the skin in your abdomen area which is essentially an outlet for the saline ring in the band. This outlet is entirely below the skin and really will go unnoticed by the patient. This is where the doctor will either add or remove saline with the insertion of a syringe. You will need to make follow visits to have the band adjusted as the diameter of the band will have to be modified for the individuals needs.
The lap band procedure has some advantages that many prefer over gastric bypass. The most obvious advantage is that the lap band is reversible. If you have any complications then you can have the lap band removed, and restore your body back to its original state.
With this weight loss surgery nothing is cut out or removed from your body. Other benefits include a shorter time in the hospital, lower risks of nutritional deficiencies, which will also lower the risk of losing your hair. Yes, a gastric bypass can essentially cause you to go bald if your not careful. Also, there is the dumping syndrome related to dietary intake restrictions.
After the operation for the first few days you will only be able to take a few sips of water. One to two weeks after the procedure you will be on a liquid diet such as a clear broth or skim milk.
After three to four weeks you will be able to eat food that has been pureed to baby food consistency. You will have to eat protein “heavy” foods to prevent rapid muscle loss. After about five weeks you will be able to start eating soft foods. If you start vomiting with the introduction of soft foods return to a liquid diet to prevent the band from slipping.
When you are ready to eat solid foods you will have to not drink liquids right before, during or right after you eat. This is because the ring does not restrict liquids and the liquids will flush the food through the stomach pouch. You must learn to not eat chunks of food as the stomach pouch can become blocked and this will create a problem.
You will have to pretty much give up sweets such as syrups or chocolate or cakes or potato chips and even pastries. Other foods that may or may not create problems will be popcorn, peanut butter, rice, shrimp, corn and un-toasted bread.
Lap bands is one way for a person to lose weight, but it may, or may not be the miracle magic bullet you are searching for in your weight loss quest. You will still have to exercise, and you must be able to stick to rigid rules as to what you can or cannot eat. The best thing you can do is what you are doing right now. Educate yourself and seek out as much knowledge as you can. Take recommendations from people but make the choice yourself. After all, you will be the one that has to live with yourself. Choose wisely after, and only after you have educated yourself as to what you will have to live with when the procedure is all said and done.
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