Individuals looking to lose weight may consider lap band, an FDA-approved weight loss
procedure that is designed to adjust the anatomy of the stomach which helps to reduce
an individual’s food intake. This laparoscopic surgery is reversible and involves
placement of a silicone belt around the upper part of the stomach. The silicone belt
placement then shrinks the upper portion of the stomach to the size of a golf ball causing
you to feel fuller and eat less. Keep reading to determine whether or not lap band
treatment is the correct choice for your weight loss journey.
It Doesn’t Happen Overnight
Weight loss doesn’t occur immediately following surgery. However, you will eventually
begin to lose weight because of the procedure. It restricts the food amount patients eat
at any given sitting, which combats the issue of overeating.
Worth the Wait
Although the surgery doesn’t work instantly, patients have seen weight loss results of
50-100 pounds within a year following surgery. The amount of weight loss differs for
each person. For optimal results, we advised patients to follow all postoperative advice
given by their surgeon regarding lifestyle changes and dieting.
Lap Band Surgery is not for Everyone
To be a candidate for surgery, you must have a body mass index over 40 – about 100
pounds overweight for men and 80 pounds overweight for women. However, if you have
a body mass index between 30-40 and suffer from obesity-related illnesses like high
blood pressure, you may be a candidate.
There is No Guarantee of Success
Not everyone who chooses to undergo lap band surgery will find it successful. There
have been instances where removal of the lap band is advised. Also, there have been
patients who experienced problems from the lap band and had to have it removed. In
some instances, the band has slipped, or the implant site has become infected. These
reasons are why it is imperative to follow the rules set by your surgeon following the
procedure.
Low Recovery Time
One benefit of lap band surgery is that it's usually an outpatient procedure that takes less than an hour. It only requires a few incisions in the abdomen area to insert the
band. While recovery time varies by patient, most are back to normal in less than a
week.
When aiming to lose weight, there are many options from which to choose. Before
deciding if lap band surgery is right for you, meet with a qualified bariatric surgeon to
seek further guidance.
On-going care and management by a physician after Lap-Band are essential to your
weight loss success! At OneSource Healthcare, we can help manage your Lap-Band
System by adjusting the band and ensuring the device is functioning correctly.
OneSource also provides nutrition education and weight loss support groups during your
weight loss journey. Visit us online at www.onesource-healthcare.com or give us a call
today at 229-439- 1950 or 229-246-6417.