How does the Lap-Band® help me lose weight?
By creating the feeling of fullness with little food, the Lap-Band helps you lose weight.
The stomach is divided to create a funnel effect with the size of the upper part of the stomach being made smaller like gastric bypass. The stoma (the opening from the upper part of the stomach to the lower) is adjustable by filling the band with saline. The Lap-Band works well when most of the calories you consume are in solid form rather than liquid food.
With the Lap-Band, absorption of nutrients is not affected. Neither your gastro-intestinal tract nor your tolerances for sugary foods are changed. Nutrient deficiency is possible if you make poor food choices or skip meals.
A realistic weight loss with this surgery is 30 to 50% of excess weight by your second year after surgery. Ideal body weight is equal to 100 pounds for the first 5 feet in height plus 5 pounds for each added inch for women. For men, it is equal to 106 pounds for the first 5 feet plus 6 pounds for each additional inch.
Example: For a person weighing 300 pounds and whose ideal body weight is 150 pounds (150 pounds of excess body weight), successful weight loss at 2 years post- surgery would be a loss of 45 to 75 pounds. This person would then weigh approximately 225 to 255 pounds.
Post-Operation
Lapband patients have an overnight hospital stay. The surgery is completed on Thursday, and patients usually return home on Friday.
The return to work time frame for the lapband surgery is 7 to 10 days depending on the type of work you do. Follow up visits are scheduled for 2 weeks post op, then every 6 weeks for one year. After the first year, follow up visits are scaled back to once every 3 months.