Laparoscopic gastric banding (lap band surgery) is surgery to make the stomach smaller. It is done to help people lose weight. The surgery limits the amount of food the stomach can hold. This helps you eat less and feel full sooner.
The band is placed laparoscopic “key hole surgery” and is reversible with hospital stay of 02 to 03 days
In this procedure a band is placed around the stomach near its upper end creating a small pouch and narrow passage into the larger remainder of the stomach. The surgery involves forming a small pouch in the upper part of the stomach that effectively becomes a new baby stomach. The narrow opening or stoma is formed by the bands two ends joining together. This band has a balloon on it which can be inflated or deflated in later stages so as to increase or decrease the size of stoma. This step makes the SAGB a stoma adjustable operation. This can be done any time after the operation with the help of port kept under the skin at the time of operation. The food still goes down and gets digested in the bowel normally.
The big difference is that the pouch will only allow a very small amount to be fitted in at one time and when this happens satisfaction is achieved and hunger will subside. So you feel full after eating a small amount of solid food and your intake of food can be kept to two or three tiny meals a day with no desire to eat between meals.
Why It Is Done?
Weight loss surgery is suggested for people who are severely overweight and who have not been able to lose weight with diet, exercise, or medicine.
Surgery is generally considered when your body mass index (BMI) is 40 or higher. Surgery may also be an option when your BMI is 35 or higher and you have a life-threatening or disabling problem that is related to your weight.
How Well It Works?
Lap band surgery was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2001. Since the procedure does not require cutting or stapling of the stomach,
It has been proved that people lose weight as successfully with lap band surgery as they do with other weight loss methods or surgeries.
Advantages of The Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding Surgery
Among the various weight loss surgeries available today, adjustable Gastric Band has advantages over others making it the safest method of weight control. The advantages are:
Laparoscopic procedure with short operating time without large incision.
Does not require opening of the gastrointestinal tract that reduces the risk of infection.
Due to its adjustable feature, it can be customized to individual needs.
It is fully reversible. The band can be emptied, for example, during pregnancy or prolonged illness allowing your stomach to return to former configuration or it can be removed (although removal is not indicated)
It is tolerated well by most persons of all ages and physical conditions.
This operation may be particularly suited to persons who are from 80 to 200 pounds overweight.
Short hospital stay (around 72 hours)
Lowest complication rate.
What To Expect After Surgery?
Although lap band surgery is considered the least invasive of the weight loss surgeries, problems can occur. They include:
Gastric perforation or tearing in the stomach wall may require additional operation,
Access port leakage or twisting may require additional operation,
May not provide the necessary feeling of satisfaction that one has had enough to eat,
There may be a feeling of Nausea and vomiting, outlet obstruction, pouch dilatation, band migration/ slippage.
Your doctor will give you specific instructions about what to eat after the surgery, a liquid or soft diet. Bit by bit, you will be able to add solid foods back into your diet.
Your doctor may recommend that you work with a dietitian to plan healthy meals that give you enough protein, vitamins, and minerals while you are losing weight.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FOR LAPROSCOPIC ADJUSTABLE GASTRIC BANDING SURGERY
How much weight will I lose?
This is not predictable; most of the patients will never be skinny people. But the majority can and do achieve a normal, healthy weight for their height and bone structure. Success after Bariatric surgery is defined as losing 50 percentage of excess body weight. After a Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding, one loses an average 60 percentage of excess body weight at 18 months.
Are there foods I can no longer eat?
You will be on a liquid diet at first progressing to a soft diet then to solids for the six-week healing phase. When properly adjusted, you would be able to eat but most of edibles just very small amounts. Some people can have problems adjusting while eating soft mushy breads, tough or dry meats, skins of certain fruits or vegetables such as grapes, potatoes and tomatoes or very fibrous foods like asparagus or pineapple.
What should I be eating?
Protein and fresh produce, if it isn't one of those two items then it is something that should not be part of your daily diet. Chicken and vegetables, Beef and vegetables, Fish and vegetables, some fruit thrown in there and a little dairy and you are good to go!.
Is it true that I'll never be able to enjoy eating again if I have weight control surgery?
Patients who have undergone weight control surgery rather start enjoying food more after surgery then they did before. They pay more attention to what they are eating, are often pickier eaters, and don't feel guilty about eating food.
Patients who follow the guidelines to eating after weight control surgery will become people who eat food for quality and flavor, not for volume.
Can I drink alcohol or soda pop?
Occasional drink once a week may be taken in moderation however Beer , Pop or Soda are not recommended due to their carbonated property as they might irritate your stomach and are high in calorie.
It is an individual’s choice to drink or eat the daily required calorie of 1200.
What if I go out to eat?
Order only a small amount of food, such as an appetizer. Eat slowly. Finish at the same time as your table companions.
What are the short term and long term dietary restrictions after banding?
First week post-op: you will typically be on a full liquid diet. Second week post-op: you will typically eat puree/soft foods diet. High calorie liquids should be avoided after the liquid stage. Other than that, it depends on individual tolerances.
When I reach my goal weight do I need to remove my band?
No, most of the patients plateau with weight loss when they get close to a normal weight and stop losing. If you continue to lose beyond your ideal weight, some of the fluid may be removed from your band to stabilize your weight. Most banded people regain most if not all of their excess weight if the band is removed.
If I get pregnant will I be able to get enough nutrition for my baby?
Many patients have become pregnant after both gastric bypass and the Lap-Band procedure.
several studies have proved that significant weight loss can improve fertility and a study from Australia showed that weight loss after the Lap-Band improves fertility in morbidly obese women.
A disease called Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), which can lead to infertility, also resolves most of the time with dramatic weight loss after Bariatric surgery.However, you are recommended to consult with your Bariatric program nutritionist to be safe if you do get pregnant