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Here
are some answers to the most frequently asked
questions about the Gastric
Banding Outpatient
Surgery.
Please also remember that your surgeon should
answer any medical questions you might have this
surgery; following medical advice is essential.
What
is morbid obesity?
How
does the Gastric Banding Outpatient Surgery
work?
Where
is the access port to the Lap-Band or the
Swedish Band?
How
is the band adjusted?
Can
the band be removed?
How
much weight will I lose with the Gastric Banding
Outpatient Surgery?
Will
I lose weight right away or will it take a long
time?
How
safe is this operation?
Will
I need plastic surgery after I have lost a lot
of weight?
How
much does Gastric Banding Outpatient Surgery cost?
How
long will it take to recover after Gastric
Banding Outpatient Surgery?
Will
I be sick after the Gastric Banding Outpatient Surgery?
What
should I do if I get sick?
Will
I have to make frequent visits to my doctor
after surgery?
What
kind of foods will I be able to eat and drink?
What
should I eat when I go out to a restaurant?
Will
I be allowed to drink alcohol?
Will
I need to take vitamin supplements?
What
about any other medication I normally take?
Does
the Lap-Band or Swedish Band limit any physical activity?
Will
I suffer from constipation?
Will
the Lap-Band or Swedish Band interfere with pregnancy?
Are
there support groups to help me after the surgery?
Q: What
is morbid obesity?
A: Obesity results from the excess
accumulation of fat that exceeds the body's
skeletal and physical standards. People with
morbid obesity are typically 50% or more over
ideal body weight or have a BMI (Body Mass
Index) of 40 or higher. A BMI of 35, or over,
associated with weight related disease is
considered severely obese. Morbid obesity, a
serious and chronic disease, can result in
physical disability, serious health problems or
death.
Q: How
does the Gastric Banding Surgery work?
A: The Lap-Band
or the newer Swedish
Band, a tool to help you
change your eating habits, helps you eat less
and feel full in two ways: By reducing the
capacity of your stomach and by increasing the
time it takes food to make its way through the
digestive system. After a small meal, you should
feel full. If you follow nutrition guidelines
when you choose your food, you should not feel
hungry or deprived.
Q: Where
is the access port to the Lap Band or the
Swedish Band?
A: The Lap-Band
or the Swedish Band
is placed under the skin
in the abdominal wall, and once the incisions
have healed it should not cause discomfort or
limit any physical exercise. The only sensation
you may experience from the port occurs when you
go in for adjustments. If you feel persistent
discomfort in the port area, talk to your
doctor.
Q: How is
the band adjusted?
A: Adjustments are often carried out in
the X-ray department, where it is easiest to
clearly see the access port. Sometimes
adjustments can be done in an outpatient clinic
or office, and local anesthesia may or may not
be needed. A fine needle is passed through the
skin in the access port to add or subtract
saline. This process most often takes only a few
minutes, and most patients say it is nearly
painless.
Q: Can the
band be removed?
A: Although the Lap-Band
or the Swedish Band
is not meant to
be removed, it can be, in some cases
laparoscopically. Surgeons report that 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 - you might even gain additional weight.
Q: How
much weight will I lose with the Gastric Banding
Outpatient Surgery?
A: Weight loss of two to three pounds a
week in the first year after the operation is
possible, but one pound a week is more likely.
Twelve to eighteen months after the operation,
weekly weight loss is usually less. Remember
that weight-loss results vary from patient to
patient, and the amount of weight you lose
depends on several factors, such as your
commitment to your new lifestyle, your exercise
regime and your eating habits.
Q: Will
I lose weight right away or will it take a
long time?
A: Plan to lose weight gradually. The
main goal of Gastric Banding Outpatient Surgery is to
promote and enable weight loss that prevents,
improves or resolves health problems connected
with severe obesity. Losing weight too quickly
is risky and can lead to a number of health
problems.
Q: How
safe is this operation?
A: Like every operation, Gastric
Banding Outpatient Surgery has some associated risks.
Because our patients already have health-related
problems, they often have an increased risk of
complications during the procedure. However, our
medical team is prepared for these complications
and makes every effort to minimalize surprises
on the operating table. If we feel that it is
not safe to perform the Gastric
Banding
Outpatient Surgery, we will not proceed. To ensure a
successful procedure, we will thoroughly screen
you prior to the Gastric
Banding
Outpatient Surgery,
and our team will be behind you 100% before,
during and after the procedure.
Q: Will I
need plastic surgery after I have lost a lot
of weight?
A: While you may find you have excess
skin around your midriff, you may not need
plastic surgery if your skin molds itself around
your new body tissue. As a rule, plastic surgery
will not be considered for at least a year or
two after the operation, which gives the skin
the time it needs to adjust before you decide to
have more surgery.
Q: How
much does Gastric Banding Outpatient Surgery
cost?
A: The procedure varies in cost from
patient to patient. The device itself is quite
expensive. Please contact
us for a quote.
Q: How
long will it take to recover after Gastric
Banding Outpatient Surgery?
A: Gastic
Banding Outpatient Surgery patients
typically spend less than 24 hours in the
hospital. At LBS here in
Thailand, we may keep you an extra night for
your comfort because hospitalization here is so
cost effective. Most patients return to work in
about a week and resume exercising a month to
six weeks later. If there are complications,
recovery may take longer. Each patient heals in
his or her own time, so you might need a little
more or a little less time for recovery,
especially if your job or lifestyle involves a
greater amount of physical activity.
Q: Will I be sick
after the Gastric Banding Outpatient Surgery?
A: If you feel nauseated or sick on a
regular basis, it may mean that you are not
chewing your food well enough or that you are
not properly following the diet rules. However,
it could also mean that there is a problem with
the placement of the band, so contact your
doctor if this problem persists.
Vomiting should be avoided as much as possible.
Not only can vomiting cause the small stomach
pouch to stretch, but it can also lead to
slippage of part of the stomach through the
band, reducing the success of the operation. In
some cases, excessive vomiting can cause
patients to need another operation.
Q: What
should I do if I get sick?
A: One of the major advantages of the Gastic
Banding Outpatient Surgery is that it can be
adjusted. If your illness requires you to eat
more, the band can be loosened by removing
saline from it. When you have recovered from
your illness and want to lose weight again, the
band can be tightened by increasing the amount
of saline. If the band cannot be loosened
enough, it may have to be removed.
Q: Will
I have to make frequent visits to my doctor
after surgery?
A: Check-ups with your doctor are a
normal and very important part of follow-up to
the Gastic Banding
Outpatient Surgery. Many surgeons
see their patients weekly or biweekly during the
first month and every four to twelve weeks for
the first year. Typically, follow-up visits are
scheduled every three to six months during the
second and third year, depending on the
individual case. Adjustments are performed
during some of these visits, and your doctor
will also ensure you are safely recovering from
the procedure.
Q: What kind of
foods will I be able to eat and drink?
A: Right after the operation, we will put
you on a strict menu of liquid foods. You will
be on our strict diet plan while you heal. The
doctor will let you know what foods you will be
able to eat and when you start eating them. Most
of our patients become lactose intolerant after
the operation. We will work with you after the
operation to change your diet and show you which
foods are good for you and which are not. You
will eat whatever you want, but in small
portions. Even so, your appetite will feel
satiated, and you will not feel hungry.
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, and those advised by
your surgeon and/or dietician. If you
eat foods that contain lots of sugar and fat or
drink liquids full of "empty"
calories, such as milkshakes, the effect of the
Lap-Band may be greatly reduced or even
canceled.
Q: What
should I eat when I go out to a restaurant?
A: Order only a small amount of food,
such as an appetizer or a salad. Eat slowly and
try to finish at the same time as your table
companions.
Q: Will
I be allowed to drink alcohol?
A: Alcohol has a high number of calories
and breaks down vitamins, but an occasional
glass of wine or other alcoholic beverage is not
considered harmful to weight loss.
Q: Will
I need to take vitamin supplements?
A: While you should be able to acquire
enough nutrients from three small meals a day,
you may want to take vitamin supplements to
ensure full nutrition. At your regular
check-ups, your specialist will evaluate whether
you are getting enough vitamin B12, folic acid
and iron and may advise you to take supplements.
Q: What
about any other medication I normally take?
A: Your surgeon may tell you to avoid
aspirin and other non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory pain relievers that may
irritate the stomach. The problems these drugs
may cause could result in band removal. You
should be able to take other prescribed
medication, though you may have to use capsules,
break big tablets in half or dissolve them in
water so they do not get stuck in the stomach,
making you sick. Always tell the doctor who
prescribes the drugs about your Lap-Band
Outpatient Surgery.
Q: Does
the Lap-Band or Swedish Band limit any physical activity?
A: After initial recovery, the Lap-Band
or the Swedish Band
does not hamper physical activity, including
aerobics, stretching, yoga, Pilates and any
other strenuous exercise.
Q: Will
I suffer from constipation?
A: While there may be some reduction in
the volume of your stool, which is normal after
a decrease in food intake because you eat less
fiber, it should not cause you severe problems.
If difficulties do arise, check with your
doctor. He or she may suggest you take a mild
laxative and drink plenty of water for a while. Your needs will vary, but you should drink at
least six to eight glasses of water a day.
Q: Will
the Lap-Band or Swedish Band interfere with pregnancy?
A: Becoming pregnant can be easier if you
lose weight! You will be in better physical
health, and your menstrual cycle may become more
regular. If you need to eat more while you are
pregnant, the band can be loosened. After
pregnancy, the band may be tightened again, and
you can resume losing weight.
Q: Are there
support groups to help me after the surgery?
A: In our local area, we can recommend
doctor-facilitated support groups. We also have
a network of support groups and our team is also
always readily available to you with a phone
call or e-mail away!
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