Q: Will I be sick a lot after the operation?
A: All Bariatric procedures including The LAP-BAND System and the
Gastric Bypass are done using the laparoscopic approach which will
increase the chance of fast recovery. If you feel nauseated or sick on
a regular basis, it may mean that you are not chewing your food well,
eating too fast or that you are not following the diet rules properly.
Gastric Bypass patients may also experience Dumping Syndrome if
they eat too much carbohydrate/sugar products. However, it could
also mean that there is a problem so you should contact us if the
problem persists. Vomiting should be avoided as much as possible.
It can cause the small stomach pouch to stretch. It can also lead
to slippage of part of the stomach through the band, which would
reduce the success of the operation. In some cases, it would also
require another operation.
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Q: How long will it take to recover after surgery?
A: If the bariatric surgery is performed laparoscopically, patients
typically spend less than 24 hours in the hospital for the Lap-Band
and 48 hours for the Gastric Bypass. It takes most patients about
a week to return to work and a month to six weeks to resume
strenuous exercise. In the case of open surgery or if there
are complications, recovery may take longer.
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Q: Can I eat anything in moderation?
A: After your stomach has healed, you may eat most foods that don’t
cause you discomfort. However, because you can only eat a little it
is important to include foods full of important vitamins and nutrients
such as those recommended in the nutrition section of this booklet
and as advised by your surgeon and/or dietitian. If you eat foods
that contain lots of sugar and fat or drink liquids full of “empty”
calories, such as milkshakes, the effect of bariatric surgery may be
greatly reduced or cancelled.
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Q: Will I feel hungry or deprived with bariatric surgery?
A: Bariatric surgery makes you eat less and feel full in two ways –
by reducing the capacity of your stomach and increasing the time it
takes food to get through the digestive system. After a small meal,
the amount of which varies from person to person, you should feel
full. If you follow the nutrition guidelines when you choose your
food and then chew it well, you should not feel hungry or deprived.
Remember that Lap-Band and Gastric Bypass are only tools to help
you change your eating habits.
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Q: How much weight will I lose?
A: Weight-loss results vary from patient to patient, and the amount
of weight you may lose depends on several things. It is very important
to set achievable weight-loss goals from the beginning.
For the Lap-Band: a weight loss of 1 to 2 pounds a week in the
first year after the operation is possible, but one pound a week is
more likely. For the Gastric Bypass: 2-4 pounds a week for the
first year is possible. Twelve to eighteen months after the operations,
weekly weight loss is usually less. Remember that you should lose
weight gradually. Losing weight too fast creates a health risk and
can lead to a number of problems. Your main goal is to have weight
loss that prevents, improves, or resolves health problems connected
with severe obesity.
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Q: Will I need to take vitamin supplements?
A: You may. It’s possible you may not get enough vitamins from
three small meals a day. At your regular check-ups, your specialist
will evaluate whether you are getting enough vitamin B12, folic acid,
and iron. Gastric bypass patients will be required to take Vit B12 for life
as well as multivitamin, calcium and iron especially menstruating women.
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Q: What about other medication?
A: You should be able to take prescribed medication. You may need
to use capsules, break big tablets in half or dissolve them in water
so they do not get stuck in the stoma and make you sick. You should
always ask the doctor who prescribes the drugs about this.
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Q: What if I go out to eat?
A: Order only a small amount of food, such as an appetizer.
Eat slowly.
Finish at the same time as your table companions. You might want to
let your host or hostess know in advance that you cannot eat very much.
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Q: What about alcohol?
A: Alcohol has a high number of calories. It also breaks down vitamins.
An occasional glass of wine or other alcoholic beverage, though, is
not considered harmful to weight loss1.
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Q: Will I suffer from constipation?
A: There may be some reduction in the volume of your stools, which
is normal after a decrease in food intake because you eat less fiber.
This should not cause you severe problems. If difficulties do arise, let us
know as soon as possible.
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Q: Does the LAP-BAND or Gastric Bypass limit any
physical activity?
A: These bariatric procedures do not affect or hamper physical activity
including aerobics, stretching and strenuous exercise.
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Q: How do the weight-loss results with the LAP-BAND compare to those with the gastric bypass?
A: Both Lap-Band and Gastric Bypass are effective tools to improve
your weight and health. Our LAP-BAND SYSTEM patients lose an
average of 50% to 60% of excess weight in the first 2 to 3 years. The
Gastric Bypass patients lose an average of 70% excess weight in the first
12 to 18 Months. However, you should focus on long-term weight loss and
remember that it is important to lose weight gradually while reducing
obesity-related risks and improving your health.
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Q: Does the Bariatric patient require frequent office visits
after surgery?
A: Check-ups are a normal and a very important part of any weight
loss management especially bariatric surgery. LAP-BAND SYSTEM
follow-up for
our patients are 4 to 8 weeks interval for the first year,
then 3-6 Months
for the next two years, then annually.
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Q: How is the band adjusted?
A: Adjustments are often carried out in the office or in the hospital
X-ray department. They are done there so the access port can be
clearly seen. When X-rays are used, your reproductive organs should
be shielded. Sometimes adjustments can be done in an outpatient
clinic or office. Local anesthesia may or may not be needed. A fine
needle is passed through the skin into the access port to add or
subtract saline. This process most often takes only a few minutes.
Most patients say it is nearly painless.
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Q: Do I have to be careful with the access port just
underneath my skin?
A: There are no restrictions based on the access port. It is placed
under the skin in the abdominal wall, and once the incisions have
healed it should not cause discomfort or limit your movements or
any physical exercise. The only sensation you may have from the
port is when you go in for adjustments. If you feel persistent
discomfort in the port area, let us know as soon as possible.
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Q: Can the band be removed?
A: Although the LAP-BAND System is not meant to be removed,
it can be. In some cases this can be done laparoscopically.
The stomach generally returns to its original shape once the
band is removed. After the removal, though, you may soon
go back up to your original weight or even gain more.
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Q: Is it true that the LAP-BAND seems “tighter” in the morning?
A: This is a fairly common feeling, especially for people with bands
that are tight or just after an adjustment. During the day the water
content in the body changes and this may cause the band to feel
“tighter” some of the time. Some women have also noticed that
the LAP-BAND feels tighter during menstruation.
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Q: What about pregnancy?
A: Becoming pregnant can be easier as you lose weight.
Your menstrual cycle may become more regular. If you need
to eat more while you are pregnant, the band can be loosened.
After the pregnancy, the band may be made tighter again, and
you can resume losing weight. We recommend waiting 1 to 2
years before pregnancy to allow improvement in your weight
prior to pregnancy.
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Q: Will I need plastic surgery for the surplus skin when I have
lost a lot of weight?
A: That is not always the case. As a rule, plastic surgery will not
be considered for at least a year or two after the operation.
Sometimes the skin will mold itself around the new body tissue.
You should give the skin the time it needs to adjust before you
decide to have more surgery.
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One final point:
It is important that you ask the physician all the questions you have
about obesity surgery including the LAP-BAND System and
Gastric Bypass.
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1. Dixon J., Dixon A., O’Brien P. Light to Moderate Alcohol Consumption: Obesity and
the Metabolic Syndrome. Am J Bariatric Medicine 2002; 17(4): 11-14. |
