The lap band surgery, which is also referred to as gastric banding, is a bariatric surgery that is recommended for people who are more than 99 pounds over their ideal body weight. This write-up provides information about this procedure and time one would take to recover from this surgery.
Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding Procedure, which is also known as lap band surgery, is a type of bariatric weight loss surgery that is suggested for people affected by severe obesity. When obesity is of such a degree that other methods of weight loss don’t seem to help, this surgical procedure can prove to be beneficial. Doctors run a series of screening tests to determine whether a person is a suitable candidate for this surgery or not. These might include blood tests, gastroscopy, or imaging studies.
The Procedure
Gastric banding is a restrictive weight loss surgery that is performed under general anesthesia. It involves the creation of a small pouch with an adjustable stoma or a narrow passage in the upper part of the stomach. A laparoscope is used to place a gastric band device around the upper portion of the stomach, at the place where food enters from the esophagus. The objective of the surgery is to limit the food intake or functional capacity of the stomach.
The device that is placed has an adjustable balloon, which can reduce the size of stoma so as to induce a feeling of fullness. This helps to lower the food intake, which in turn helps one to lose weight. In case the patient experiences any discomfort, the option of laparoscopic removal of gastric band is available as well. This procedure doesn’t involve any stapling or cutting of the stomach. This is a minimally-invasive surgery and the patient can be discharged within 48 hours.
Recovery Time
Being a minimally-invasive procedure, gastric banding doesn’t involve cutting or stapling of any organs. Most patients are discharged within 48 hours. Some might even be discharged within 24 hours. After undergoing this surgery, the patient must consult the doctor within a week. Generally a follow-up is scheduled after a week. Since this surgery alters the anatomy of the stomach, one must strictly follow dietary guidelines.
One must follow a liquid diet during the first two weeks post surgery. Though the patient might be able to perform the daily activities 7-10 days after the procedure, any strenuous activity must be avoided for a period of 6 weeks after surgery. Post-operative follow-up is an essential part of this procedure. You might have to go for checkups every week during the first month. One could consult the doctor regarding any adjustments after a few months.
Adjustments could be made by injection or retraction of the saline fluid into the port of the lap band device. For those who have lost a considerable amount of weight, the diameter of the lap band device can be increased. This will slow down the rate of weight loss. Sometimes complications might arise due to slippage or deflation of band. Medical assistance must be sought, if the patient experiences problems such as heartburn, nausea and vomiting, difficulty in swallowing, blockage of the stoma, dehydration, gastritis, constipation, ulceration, etc.
If you are planning to undergo a lap band surgery for losing weight, make sure that you find out more about the success rate and pros and cons of this surgery.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a medical expert.
