Lap Band Surgery

Lap Band Surgery:

Lap Band Surgery is another one of the procedures that are used in weight loss treatment with the aim of changing the way the patient’s body absorbs food. This type of weight loss surgery is not considered a cosmetic procedure.

Instead, the goal of lap band surgery is to help correct excessive weight problems in patients who are in high-risk categories or who are considered to be extremely obese.

Lap Band surgery is not an end-all to excessive weight problems.  Instead, it is part of an overall treatment plan, and said plan includes but may not be limited to: physical therapists, nutritionists, internal medicine, mental health specialists, the lap band surgeon, and internal medicine specialists.

Lap Band Procedure Length: Two hours

Hospital Stay: One night (On average)

Traveling Home: You will usually be cleared to travel home between 5 and 7 days after lap band surgery.

How do you determine whether you need Lap Band surgery?

  1. Do you have a BMI (Body Mass Index) over 40kg/M2?
  2. Do you have diabetes, hypertension or some other chronic clinical condition and is your BMI between 35-40kg/M2?
  3. Have you been told that you have sleep apnea and that it will improve through losing weight or bariatric surgery such as a lap band procedure?
  4. Have your tried and failed at other types of weight loss therapies design specifically for obese patients?

Lap Band Surgery – Procedure Details:

The surgeon is going to discuss the details of the lap band procedure and techniques that he is going to use with you.

Lap Band surgery is called an alaparoscopic procedure whereby a silicone band placed around the top portion of the stomach or fundus, and it divides it. There is a port left just beneath the skin, and the silicone band is connected to it.

The tightness of the Lap Band can be controlled by the surgeon by the simple injection of a saline solution. This is the procedure of choice for weight loss surgery since it is relatively simple, removal is easy, and the complication rate is low.

However, lap band surgery complications may include infection of the port site and band loosening, among others.

What can you expect after surgery?

Once you awaken from lap band surgery, you may feel bloated, and you may feel the urge to constantly go to the bathroom. Any and all left over gas must work itself through your digestive system over the next few hours, and it must be eliminated.

  1. Foley Catheter: During the surgery, a Foley catheter, which is a tube that is placed into the bladder to drain urine, may need to be used.
  2. Deep Breathing: In order to avoid serious complications, your lungs are going to need plenty of exercise after surgery. You will be required to take a series of ten deep breaths every hour as part of your deep breathing therapy. In order to help you with the process, a spirometer may be prescribed by your doctor.
  3. Deep Venous Thrombosis Prevention: DVT (Deep Venous Thrombosis) is an extremely serious complication that can occur following surgery. Since the surgery will cause you to lie down for long periods of time, the blood in your legs will become more static, and there will be a tendency to form clots.  However, medications, compression stockings, and/or pneumatic boots may be used to prevent DVT.  Once you are recovering, special exercises may be be given to you by your doctor so that you can perform them at home.
  4. Diet: Without question, you are going to have to change your diet and eating habits. A nutritionist is going to help you formulate a proper diet, and you will be given guidance on how you can change your eating habits.
  5. Walking: You will be instructed by your medical team on when you can resume walking and performing other daily activities

Medications: Every Lap Band surgery case is different, so the medications that a physician may prescribe to a patient while he/she is in the hospital may vary. There are benefits, risks and alternatives to any medication, and the nursing staff should explain what these are thoroughly.

  1. Antibiotics - These may be used to reduce your risk of infection, so make sure you advise the medical team if you are allergic or have had adverse reactions to antibiotics.
  2. Anti-nausea medicine - There are people who may be made nauseous by anesthesia. If this is the case with you, medication may be used to help you feel better as you recover.
  3. Pain medicine - There will be a pain management plan after surgery, and this plan may include medication, a catheter which is placed in your spine, or a pump which you will control. Lap Band surgery is considered major surgery, but the pain should be minimal.
  4. Sleep inducers - Getting plenty of sleep is an important part of your recovery, and you may be given medication to induce sleep to help speed up healing and recovery.
  5. Other medications - Your surgeon may recommend other medication as necessary, and the nursing staff will make sure that your surgeon’s instructions are followed.

Risks and Alternatives to Treatment

Any type of surgical procedure has inherent risks which are often minimal, but you should still be aware of them. Since each patient presents different sets of risks according to his/her medical history, they should be discussed thoroughly with the physician and surgeon prior to lap band surgery.

Allergic reactions to anesthesia and the medications used for this purpose may occur.  In addition, you may experience breathing difficulties during or after lap band surgery.  If you are aware of these risks, you can make your surgeon aware of any of these issues as soon as they start to manifest themselves.

There are, of course, risks that are associated with the lap band procedure such as unusual blood loss and abdominal organ damage which may require a subsequent surgery. Successful surgery does not mean that you might no experience other complications such as pain, infection, and/or blood clots.

You will have a highly trained lap band surgical team, and they will know who to deal with any of these issues, and they will minimize they chance of any of these complications occurring after your surgery. However, if complications do occur, a second surgery ma be required to correct any problem which may have arisen. Your surgeon, of course, will inform and/or discuss the different treatment options available if you have any complications.

You must contact your surgeon or physician after lap band surgery if:

  1. You start to feel feverish or you develop a temperature
  2. Your wound feels hot or if it is oozing.
  3. The problems you had surgery for worsen.
  4. You develop a lot of pain in your legs.
  5. When you pass urine, you feel pain or a burning sensation.

You can call 1-866-665-6433 if you have any questions regarding Lap Band surgery.

Read the Wikipedia article on Lap Band Surgery.