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Lap Band Surgery Information
General weight loss results following Lap band surgery are very good; around 80% of patients typically lose between 50 and 60% of their excess body weight. Sustainable weight loss results are best achieved when this process is complimented by major lifestyle changes, including regular exercise and healthy eating habits.
Lap band surgery is the safest of all weight loss surgery procedures; complication rates are less than 1%. Studies have shown reductions in the symptoms of Type II Diabetes, sleep apnoea and hypertension, amongst other lifestyle-related diseases.
The lap band, once inserted, decreases the volume of food consumed by slowing down the dispersion of food into the large part of the stomach, making one feel fuller quicker and for longer. Lap bands are adjustable, allowing patients to meet their dietary and nutritional requirements with minimal amounts of food. Adjusting the band is a simple and painless procedure that aids in restricting the amount of solid food one can consume.
Band Adjustments are done via an access port which is placed under the tissue lining of one's stomach. It is attached to a thin tubing which is connected to the band and is not visible. The tighter the band the slower the digestion. Bands that are too tight usually lead to vomiting after one or two bites of food. This is NOT normal but often a concern amongst the general population, who believe the band makes you vomit after every meal. It is imperative that one's band is not too tight, allowing one to comfortably eat an entree size meal. Adjusting the band is essential to helping patients meet their dietary and nutritional requirements and vomiting after every meal should not be accepted as normal.
Most lap band patients are able to leave hospital the day after having the band inserted. Discomfort and pain is usually minimal.
Advantages of the Lap Band over other weight loss procedures:
- It can be adjusted progressively to ensure that it continues to be both comfortable and effective as each patient's condition changes.
- It is placed laparoscopically (key hole surgery), which is a lot less invasive and enables the patient to return to normal activities much quicker than with other procedures.
- It is reversible, which means that in the case of complications or advances in the treatment of obesity, the Lap Band can be removed.
