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Frequent Questions
Q.: Who qualifies for the Lap Band procedure?
A: Persons who meet the following:
- At least 18 years old
- You must be 100lbs overweight or 75lbs overweight with two comorbidities from your excess weight.
- Been overweight for at least 5 years.
- Made serious attempts at weight loss without success
- Do not have any medical condition that causes you to be overweight
- Willing to comply with lifestyle changes to adjust to the Band.
Q: How does the LAP Band affect my current medical problems ?
(Hypertension, diabetes, sleep apnea, etc.)
A: After weight loss surgery with the Lap Band, many of your medical problems may be improved or eliminated. It is not necessary to loose all of your excess weight to achieve improvement in many of these medical conditions.
Q: What are the advantages of the Lap Band?
A: The Lap Band is:
- Least Invasive
- Adjustable- tailored to your weight loss needs or other medical conditions
- No cutting, stapling, or rerouting of the stomach or intestines
- Outpatient surgery or short hospital stay and quick recovery
- Reversible
- Lower risks with surgery and less serious long term complications
- Since 1993, more than 125,000 Lap Band procedures have been performed worldwide and is the most common weight loss surgery performed around the world.
Q: How does the Lap Band work?
A: The band restricts your stomach, gives you a feeling of fullness or satiety. By reducing your portion size and appetite, allows you to lose your weight. There is no guarantee of weight loss and you must follow dietary recommendations and follow up as instructed. An increase in activity and exercise is important to achieve maximum results.
Q: How long does the procedure take?
A: Most procedures can be completed in less than an hour, but some may take longer if you have a complex history.
Q: What is the recovery?
A: Most people are able to go home the same day. Some patients have to remain in the hospital longer if they have serious medical conditions from their obesity. Most people are able to return to work in about 5-7 days and to exercise in about 4 weeks. After the recovery period, there are no restrictions in any activities or exercise, including scuba diving.
Q: Is the procedure dangerous?
A: Although the procedure is minimally invasive, any surgical procedure has a risk of complications including death. With the Lap Band procedure the risk of complications include stomach perforation, blood clots, infection, bleeding, liver or spleen damage. The mortality from this procedure is very low at less than 0.1%.
After the Lap Band has been in place, possible complications include erosion of the band, slippage of the stomach under the band, dilation of the esophagus, obstruction, nausea and vomiting, malfunction of the port, with the possibility of reoperation. Our surgeons can discuss the risks specifically with you.
Q: Who is not a candidate for the Lap Band?
A: A person with any of the following is not a candidate:
- Someone who is not a candidate for the elective surgery, such as severe heart or lung disease
- Active infection
- Addiction to alcohol or drugs
- Chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, portal hypertension, gastric or esophageal varices.
- Esophageal diseases, stricture or blockages.
- Someone who is currently pregnant (It is OK to get pregnant after having the Lap Band).
- Anyone unwilling or unable to comply with the required dietary recommendations and restrictions.
- Chronic or long term steroid treatment ( long term anti-inflammatories or steroids may increase the risk of band erosion or reoperation).
Q: Will I be able to eat normal foods after the Lap Band procedure?
A: Immediately after surgery you will be transitioned from a liquid diet to solid foods as described in the diet section. After your transition we will suggest that you avoid carbonated beverages, fibrous foods, and foods that are difficult to chew to avoid any complications with nausea or vomiting. You will need to eat smaller portions and chew your food well, but most foods can be tolerated. Also, because you will eat less, it is important to make sure that your food is full of nutrients and vitamins. While we recommend that you limit your liquids during meals, we encourage you to drink water or low calorie beverages throughout the day.
Q: Is the band reversible?
A: Although the band is designed to stay indefinitely, it can be loosened or removed at any time. If necessary, the Lap Band can be removed (usually laparoscopically) as an outpatient, and the stomach will return to normal function. However, most people will regain weight if the band is loosened or removed.
Q: How do I get my band adjusted?
A: Adjustments are done as an outpatient in the office or surgery center, usually with xray assistance and normally takes less than 15 minutes. The port is accessed using a needle under the skin and fluid is added based on the barium swallow. You will be asked to drink liquids for 24-48hrs after any adjustment. One of our surgeons will oversee the adjustments.
Q: How often do I have to have my band adjusted?
A: The first fill occurs approximately 6 weeks after surgery. This allows the stomach to heal around the band in order to lessen the chance of slippage. The number of adjustments depends on your weight loss. The goal is to achieve 1-2 lbs weight loss per week. Greater weight loss will occur with increased physical activity and exercise. During the first year most people have adjustments every few months. After the first year the adjustments tend to be only a few times a year.
Q: Will Insurance cover the Lap Band procedure?
A: Many insurance companies do cover the procedure. Check with your insurance company to see if your benefits include the Lap Band procedure. If your insurance does cover the procedure, then we will send a Letter of Medical Necessity to your insurance company to have the procedure approved. If the Lap Band procedure is not covered by your insurance company or not approved, you may choose a “self-pay” all inclusive option (includes surgery center, surgeon and assistant surgeon’s fees, anesthesiologist, and first year of fills). This can be financed with your bank or credit union or with financing programs offered through the Surgery Center of Richardson. Please ask for further details if needed.
Q: If my insurance does cover the Lap Band procedure, how long does the approval process take?
A: After we have submitted the Letter of Medical Necessity then it can take from a few weeks to a few months to receive approval. You can assist the process by calling your insurance company to check on the status of your Letter of Medical Necessity.
Q: What if I have problems with vomiting?
A: It may mean that you may be eating too much or too fast and not chewing your food well. Regular vomiting can be caused by wrong eating behavior or the band may be too tight. Vomiting can cause slippage or herniation of the stomach and could require reoperation. If you have persistent vomiting or are unable to tolerate food or liquids, you need to call your Doctor and come in to have your band checked out.
Q: Will I need to take vitamin supplements?
A: It is recommended that you take a multivitamin daily. In some cases calcium, B12 or Folic acid will be recommended.
Q: What if I get pregnant?
A: The band can be loosened so that you can eat more during pregnancy. After your pregnancy the band can readjusted to resume your weight loss.
Q: Can I drink alcohol?
A: There is no contraindication to drinking alcohol with the Lap Band. Alcohol is a high calorie liquid, and as such, should be limited, especially during the weight loss period.
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