Living with the LAP-BAND System

You are now on the road to successful weight loss. You are also on your way toward a lifelong program that will let you maintain a healthy weight. Work closely with your surgeon and weight management team. Follow their advice and communicate openly with them. Learn to use the LAP-BAND System as a tool to help you lose your excess weight.

Surgery is the first step on the road to successful and sustained weight loss. However, you must adopt a lifelong program that will help you meet your goals. This multi-faceted program will include routine check-ups with your surgeon, ongoing band adjustments if necessary, and regular attendance at support group meetings. Work closely with your surgeon and weight management team, follow their advice and communicate openly with them. Learn to use the LAP-BAND System as a tool to help you lose your excess weight.

Adjusting to a New Life

LAP-BAND adjustments are performed without surgery using a thin needle to inject or withdraw saline from the band via the access port. Being able to adjust the band is a unique feature of the LAP­BAND System and is a normal part of the follow-up. This feature lets your surgeon find the right level of restriction to meet your individual needs.

Following the LAP-BAND System placement procedure, the band is usually left empty or only partially inflated for a while. Adjustments are not usually performed until 4 to 6 weeks after surgery, although the exact time will vary from patient to patient. You and your surgeon will decide when the time is right for your first band adjustment. To determine this, your surgeon will consider:

• your weight loss so far
• the amount of food you can comfortably eat
• your exercise routine, and
• the amount of fluid already in your band.

The LAP-BAND System offers you a way to obtain steady and safe weight loss. Don’t be in a hurry to have an adjustment before you are ready.

Motivation is Key

To work, the band needs your participation. Your success will depend on you and the partnership between you and your medical team. Your surgeon will not perform the operation unless he or she is sure that you understand the problems your excess weight is causing. Your surgeon will also make sure you understand your responsibilities, including adopting and maintaining new eating patterns and a new lifestyle.

EATING AND DRINKING AFTER THE OPERATION

After your surgery, you will need a new diet. You should discuss this in detail with your surgeon and/or dietician. They can help you learn and get used to the changes in lifestyle and eating habits you need to make.

Note: Your surgeon may give you specific instructions. The following information is meant to be an overview. Be sure you know the instructions your doctor wants you to follow.

It is very important to follow the eating and drinking instructions immediately after the operation. This allows the new stomach structure to heal completely and the LAP-BAND to sit in the right position. It may take a month or so for this to happen. It is important, especially in the early weeks, not to stretch the small stomach pouch above the LAP-BAND. Vomiting can do this, so it is important not to vomit. Vomiting can increase the chance of stomach tissue slipping up through the band.

The first few days after the operation

Right after the operation, you can have an occasional sip of water or suck on an ice cube. You shouldn't drink more than this. The day after the operation, you can take a little more fluid. But you should only take a small amount at a time. Besides water, you should also choose liquids that have an adequate number of calories. To prevent nausea and vomiting, do not drink too much.

The first one to four weeks

These liquids and very soft foods are recommended for the first four weeks after the operation:

• clear broth or soup (with no vegetables or meat and not creamy)
• low-fat yogurt
• milk (preferably skim)
• jello
• fruit juice or pureed soft fruit

As time goes on, you will slowly move to solid food in accordance with your surgeon's and/or dietician's advice. In the first few weeks, you may be able to eat to eat foods that may not be allowed in your diet later because these foods may contain too many calories. It is more important in the first few weeks to let your stomach adjust to the LAP-BAND System than it is to lose weight. In general, you should follow professional advice about these foods.

Four to six weeks

At this time, you may start having slightly thicker, creamier soups. This will help you switch gradually to more solid foods. Some products like bread, red meat and rice may still cause you problems, so it is better to eat softer foods that are easier to digest. These might include foods such as moist white meat (chicken or pork) and fish.

Chew your food well. If you have dentures, be sure to cut your food into small pieces and chew it thoroughly. If you don't follow these precautions, you may have vomiting, stomach irritation and swelling. You could also have stomach obstruction. If you have a problem with solid foods and suffer from nausea or vomiting, go back to the liquid diet you had earlier. then slowly add soft foods to help you transition to solid foods later. Always ask for advice that is specific to your situation from you doctor or dietician. Vomiting may increase the incidence of band slippage, or stretching of the small stomach pouch above the band.

If you are ready to take control of your obesity and your life with the LAP-BAND System, talk to your surgeon about the advantages, disadvantages and possible risks of this treatment.