Procedure Details [ CLOSE & RETURN TO PROCEDURE HOMEPAGE]
LAP banding requires no cutting or stapling of the stomach. It is done laparosopically through several small incisions on the abdomen. The surgeon injects harmless carbon dioxide gas into the abdomen to expand it. Small tubes are then inserted to create passages for the surgical instruments. A tiny camera on one tube allows an inside view for the LAP BAND placement.
After placement, a balloon is inflated to make the upper pouch the correct size. This balloon is passed through the mouth and esophagus through a tube. Once the surgeon is satisfied with the pouch size, the band is sutured into place and the tube and balloon are removed.
A saline-injection port reservoir is implanted beneath the skin at the side of the body or just below the rib cage. A long tube will connect the port and Lap band. Later, doctors will use the reservoir to inject or remove saline from the band to adjust its size. Incisions are sutured after the carbon dioxide gas is released, and the surgery is complete. In future, you will be able to adjust the size of the band by filling it with more saline or releasing some of the saline. This should ONLY be done with a qualified doctor and PlanetHospital will steer you to several doctors who can do this adjustment for you - a typical adjustment takes 10-15 minutes and costs around $300.
Surgery Time Line and Preparation Do not have any food at least 18 hours prior to surgery (24 hours is preferred), no caffeine and no sodas. Do not smoke for at least two weeks prior to surgery. DO NOT use laxatives, enemas, etc. on your own prior to surgery. You will have your pre-op in the morning and surgery in the afternoon (or pre-op in the afternoon and surgery the following day depending on your arrival). You will stay one night in the hospital after surgery and get your nutritional counseling the following day. You should stay one extra day before flying home. Day 1:Fly in, rest, and do pre-op testing.
Day 2:Surgery
Day 3:Rest
Day 4:Rest and then go home (or stay one more day if you not feeling well).
Anesthesia
General anesthesia is administered. If you have any reaction to anesthesia, this surgery is not recommended.
Post Op Care [ CLOSE & RETURN TO PROCEDURE HOMEPAGE]
PlanetHospital is the first overseas facilitator to offer a bundled price for both pre-operative and post-operative care. IBARIHEALTH and PlanetHospital have teamed up to create an extremely affortable and high level of recommended care for our clients. Please ask a case manager for more information. Follow-up treatment is essential for LAP band patients. Most patients require an overnight stay in the hospital, with a post-op exam a week later. During this exam, the band size will be checked and possibly adjusted through the injection port created during the surgery. The band size will be adjusted throughout treatment to help control over or under-eating, and an adjustment takes approximately 15 minutes. LAP banding requires careful management of a patient's diet before and after surgery. If possible, patients should reduce calorie intake by 25 percent, but avoid any fad or binge diets. Increased physical activity will decrease recovery time. Patients will be placed on a low-energy liquid diet for 2 to 4 weeks prior to the surgery to ease surgical risks by reducing the size of the liver. Patients must also follow a completely liquid diet for 2 to 4 weeks following the surgery. A pureed diet is prescribed for the following 4 weeks; only then may patients gradually begin a normal diet consisting of low-energy foods spread out over several small meals and snacks. By following these strict guidelines, the patient should continually lose weight. A dietitian should plan this radical diet change, and patients are encouraged to follow up with group and/or individual therapy. A lap Band procedure is an effective tool for weight loss, however, a patient needs to make a life style change as well to make sure their new weight can be maintained.
Risks and Side Effects [ CLOSE & RETURN TO PROCEDURE HOMEPAGE]
| | | | | Gastric Banding Surgery (Lap-Band® or Realize®), the safe and reversible weight loss surgery. |
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Risk and Side Effects of Lap Band Surgery
Patients may require up to a 48-hour hospital stay. A strict diet consisting primarily of liquids and small portions of healthy foods is required for the first 6 weeks after surgery. Light physical activities can be resumed within 5 days in most cases. Patients can usually return to work within 3 weeks.
The Lap-band® technique is considered one of the safest surgeries for weight loss because there is no cutting or stapling of the stomach involved and it is fully reversible. Risks and complications are rare, but they include nausea, vomiting, reflux, stoma obstruction, poor esophageal function, constipation, diarrhea, and difficulty swallowing. The chief side effect recording on a few patients is that no meaningful weight loss is achieved (but no weight is gained either). Band slippage is common and can be fixed with surgery only (not a major surgery if one keeps their band filled properly). Finally, regardless of whom you choose for your surgery, it is important that you be aware that there are a few cut-rate surgeons both in the USA and abroad who make their own bands as a cost savings measure, so protect yourself. There is only one company that makes the Lap-Band and that is INAMED (who also make silicone breast implants and other prosthesis).
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| Avoid taking these medications 2 weeks prior to your procedure date. | | | | Acupril | Daypro | Ibuprofen | Nabumetone | Sine-Off | | Actron Caplets | Dinol | Ibuprohm | Nalfon | SinusSK-65 | | Advil | Diclofenac | Idenal | Naprelan | Sloprin | | Aleve | Disalcid | Indochron E-R | Napron X | Stanback | | Alka Seltzer | Doan's | Indocin SR | Naprosyn | Sulindac | | Anacin | Dristan | Indocin | Naproxen | Supac | | Anaprox | Duoprin | Indomethacin SR | Neocylate | Synalgos | | Anaprox DS | Duradyne | Indomethacin | Norphadrine | Talwin | | Andodynos | Durasal | Indo-Lemmon | Norgesic | Ticlid | | Ansaid | Dynosal | Isobutal | Norwich | Trebndar | | Argesic | Easprin | Isobutyl | Nuprin | Tripain | | Arthralgen | EC-Naprosyn | IsolinIsollyl | Omnicol | Tricosal | | Arthropan | Ecotrin | Ketoprofen | Orphenagesic | Tolectin Product | | Ascomp | Efficin | Ketorlac | Orudis Products | Tolmetin | | Ascriptin | Empirin | Kolephrin | Oruvail | Toradol | | Asperbus | Enagrin | Laniroit | Os-Cal Gesic | Trianinicin | | Aspergum | Endodam | Lanorinal | Oxaprozin | Trigesic | | Aspirin | Enpirin | Lovenox | Oxycodone | Trilisate | | Axotal | Equagesic | Lodine Lortab | Pabalate Product | Uracel | | Azdone | Etodolac | Magan | PAC rev | Ursinus Inlay | | Bayer Products | Excedrin | Manaprin | PCCap | Vanquish | | Buff-A Comp | Feldene | Magsal | Panasal | Verin | | Buffaprin | Fenopofen | Marnal | Pepto Bismol | Vibutal | | Bufferin | Fiorgen | Measruin | Percodan | Vitamin E | | Buffets | Fiormor | Meclofenamate | Persistin | Voltaren | | Buffinol | Floirnal | Meclomen | Piroxicam | Zorprir | | Buf-Tabs | Flurbiprofen | MenfenamicAcid | Ponstel | | | Butabital | Fortabs | Menadol | Plavix | | | Butagen | Fourway Cold | Metrofenamate | Presoliln | | | Butinol | Gaysal-S | Medipren | Propoxyphene | | | CMT | Gelpimin | Mefenamic | Proxican | | | Cama | Gemnisyn | Methocarbanol | Relafen | | | Cataflam | Gennisin | Micrainin | Rhinocaps | | | Citra Forte | Genpril | Mesalamine | Rhinogesic | | | Clinoril | Genprin | Midol Products | Robaxisal | | | Congesprin | Goody's | Mobidin | Roxirin | | | Cope Tablets | Halfprin | Mono-Gesic | Rufen | | | Coricidin D | Heparin | Mobigesic | SAC Tablets | | | CosprinCP-2 Tablets | Healthprin | Momentum | Saleto Products | | | Davron | IBU | Mortin Products | Salocol | | | Dasin | Ibuprin | Multivitamins | Salphenyl | | | | | | Scot-tussin 5 | |
| | HERBALS | | Black Cohosh | Garlic | Grapeseed | Primose Oil | Valerian | | Cayenne | Ginger | Kava Kava | Saw Palmetto | | | Echinacea | Ginkbo Biloba | Milk Thistle | Soy | | | Feverfew | Ginseng | Peppermint | St. Johns Wort | | | | | | | |
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FAQ [ CLOSE & RETURN TO PROCEDURE HOMEPAGE]
| | | | Gastric Banding Surgery (Lap-Band® or Realize®),
the safe and reversible weight loss surgery. |
| | | | | | Frequently Asked Questions about Lap-Band Surgery
Q: What is the Lap Band Surgery?
A: Actually, the name Lap-Band is an FDA- approved brand pertaining to the adjustable silicone belt used in the procedure. The belt is placed around the stomach, resulting in the ability to control hunger.
With a Lap Band, a person eats less while getting a feel of fullness, thus helping in weight management. This is done by decreasing the stomach capacity for food and prolonging the time it takes food to get through the whole digestive system. The Lap Band is widely considered as a tool to help you change your eating habits.Q: What will happen in the surgery?
A: The surgery is often done laparoscopically. The surgery will place the Lap-Band around the upper part of the stomach. The doctors will secure them with sutures. The band is then connected to a port, which enables the silicon band to be inflated. The port would be placed on the top part of the tummy, underneath the skin. Q: How does it work?
A: The port can be injected with saline. The saline in turn will inflate the band, restricting the passage in the lower part of the stomach. This will produce the desired effect of limiting food intake and making food go through the digestive system longer.
If the band gets too tight, the doctor can simply adjust it safely and easily. Adjustments can be carried out in an X-ray department, clinic or office, and is a very simple procedure. A needle would go through the port to add or subtract saline. This only takes a few minutes and is always nearly painless.
The adjustment would require frequent visits to the doctor, spanning to up to 8 adjustments within the first 18 months of the surgery.
Q: How long would the surgery be?
A: The Lap Band procedure normally takes only about an hour. A stay in the hospital can be possible if the doctors deem it necessary. If the surgery is performed laparoscopically, a typical patient would only spend less than 24 hours in the hospital.
Q: When can I return to work?
A: The patient can return to work within the week, with little or no discomfort.
Q: What do I need to do after the surgery? A: The doctor and perhaps a nutritionist will design a nutrition plan for you to follow in the coming days. The plan is often a liquid or soft diet for a few weeks until you get accustomed to more solid foods. Q: How much weight would I be able to lose?
A: Weight loss is gradual, and it is possible to lose a pound a week in the first year of the operation. Within two years, patients can lose up to half of their excess body weight. This of course, depends on the patient and the new lifestyle led as well as eating habits.
Q: Compared to other options, what is the difference of Lap Band?
A: Lap Band is known for long term weight loss. It is often laparascopic, thus minimally invasive and poses less complications and risks as open surgery. There is no intestinal cutting or rerouting involved so pain is reduced as well as recovery and hospital stay.
The major plus is its adjustability without further surgery. It is entirely reversible, and thousands of cases have been successful.
Q: Who manufactures the Lap-Band?
A: ADJUSTIBLE BAND Manufacturers
INAMED is the manufacturer of the actual product known as the LAP-BAND®. Inamed, an American company also makes silicone breast implants and its parent company, Allergan, makes Botox. For more information, visit www.allerganandinamed.com
JOHNSON & JOHNSON produces a rival band called Realize. Some doctors feel the Realize to be a more superior product because it is easier to insert and remove. Most of our surgeons use both the Inamed Lap Band or the J&J Realize Band.
MIDBAND is a French company that makes a rival product called the MIDBAND but to date none of our surgeons use it.
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includes 2 nights hospital stay (1 night in hotel if needed), surgical team , complete procedure and transportation to and from the airport! |
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Lapband VS other surgeries [ CLOSE & RETURN TO PROCEDURE HOMEPAGE]
| | | | Gastric Banding Surgery (Lap-Band® or Realize®),
the safe and reversible weight loss surgery. |
| | | | | | Comparing Lap Band with Gastric Bypass and Gastric Balloon: Many of you will contact us and ask which is best for you. LAP BAND? Gastric Bypass or the Gastric Balloon. The correct answer is that it is hard to determine. Not even the top doctors in the world - many of whom in our network can agree on making such a recommendation without seeing you and even then it is a matter of personal choice. The following is by no means an authoritative guideline but it might answer some questions: | | |
| | LAP BAND | Rouyn Y Loop Gastric Bypass
(not including mini-gastric
and gastric sleeve) | Gastric Balloon | Has been around since only 2002 | Traditional, proven method of weight loss | Has been around since 2005 | Minimally invasive and semi-reversible, low risk | Complicated surgery, higher risk | No surgery needed, totally reversible | Gradual weight loss over two years | Immediate weight loss followed by gradual weight loss. Clinically, you will lose more weight with a gastric bypass | Steady weight loss but not as much weight loss as a lap band. | Some deficiency in vitamins and minerals because of decreased intake. | Significant deficiency in mineral and vitamin intake | No need to take supplements no vitamin deficiency | Pancreas and spleen not affected | Pancreas and spleen bypassed | No effect on pancreas and spleen | Needs constant fills | No further adjustment needed | Some adjustment needed | Not recommended for weights above 300 lbs | 300 lbs OK | Very little affect for people weighing more than 250lb | No dumping | Dumping caused due to intake of sugars ad carbs | No dumping |
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