Facts And Information About Lapband Surgery

By Matthew Hall


Over the years, obesity has become a growing concern among many people. Whereas lifestyle modification remains the main mode of treatment, with time surgical options have become more popular as well. One of the most used surgical treatments is known as gastric banding, popularly called lapband surgery. There are various useful tips and information one should know about the procedure before considering it.

This procedure involves placement of a belt that is adjustable around the upper stomach area. This is done using what is called a laparoscope. The band is manufactured from silicone and can be tightened by adding saline to fill the band. The band is then connected to a port that is placed under skin in the abdominal area. This port is used for introducing or removing saline as is needed.

The main aim of the procedure is for restricting size of your stomach and also the amount of food that it is able to hold. It also gets to slow down passage of food into intestines. By doing this, signals will be sent to the brain by the gut to give the sensation of fullness, which makes one eat less. The signal is sent from the small pouch created by the the band at upper sections of the stomach. When this pouch is full, there is sending of a signal that is sent to the brain.

The procedure is done under full general anesthesia and goes for one or two hours. It gets performed through a laparoscopic method that will involve the surgeon making 3 to 5 incisions that are small. These incisions are about an inch in length. There then is the insertion of a small camera within one incision to have a view of the stomach on the screen. This camera gets attached to a tube. The function of remaining incisions is to allow the doctor to use surgical instruments and also for placement of the band.

You will need to prepare well for the procedure. Depending on the surgical practitioner or program one is going for, mode of preparation will vary. The majority of treatment institutions want to see some kind of commitment from patients in prior when it comes to lifestyle changes. This is normally as proof that one is ready for the weight loss. One of the things they are required to do is eat 5 to 6 small meals every day to prepare for the challenge ahead. You are supposed to avoid foods high in calories like ice cream or milk shake.

Recovery varies from one individual to the next. Generally however, the procedure offers relatively shorter hospitalization period and much quicker recovery. Actually, many people will be able to get back to normal work within a week. This is possible if the work is not so demanding. Normal activities can resume after 6 weeks.

After you come from the procedure, there might be a feeling of discomfort or pain but this is easily controlled using medications. After 6 to 8 weeks, any discomfort ends and normalcy resumes. At first, weight loss will be very rapid but this slows down after some time. In total, one will lose about 40 percent of what their weight was.

There are a few expected side effects. They include among others ulceration of the targeted areas, vomiting, nausea and dehydration. Some patients can experience weight gain.




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