Central Baptist Hospital Weight Loss Surgery Center
Laparoscopic Gastric Banding
Laparascopic Adjustable Gastric Banding Surgery helps people feel full faster, and stay full longer. Unlike other weight loss surgical procedures, this one is both adjustable and reversible. Through tiny laparoscopic incisions, surgeons place a silicone band around the top of the stomach, creating a pouch about the size of an egg. The band is attached to a small tube which connects to a port placed under your skin on the left lower side of your abdomen. Through the port, we can inject and remove saline which will increase or decrease the tightness of the band. This is called “a fill” or an “unfill”, and is done in the surgeon’s office by one of his assistants. You will have your first fill 4 weeks after surgery. The small pouch created by the band has a narrow opening to your stomach. Once in place, small amounts of food will fill your pouch making you feel full. That food will empty into your stomach slowly, making you stay full longer. Both the Lap-Band (Allergan) and the Realize band (Johnson & Johnson/Ethicon) are FDA approved. Both bands are available to you. The band can be removed through the same tiny laparoscopic incisions if necessary, however, the need for this is rare.
All surgery carries risk, and complications can occur. We will discuss all surgical risks and the risks unique to gastric banding with you in your pre-op education classes.
- Hospital stay: Most of our patients go home the day of surgery. Some insurance companies (Medicare) require that you spend one night in the hospital. If you are spending the night, you can anticipate having a private room (on rare occassions a semi-private) on the 3rd floor. The staff on 3N are specially trained to care for the needs of weight loss surgery patients.
- Back to work: Many patients have their surgery in the middle or end of the week and are back at work by the following Monday. Your return to work is determined by your own needs, and will be discussed with you prior to surgery.
- Diet and nutrition: You will be on a liquid diet for a short period of time before and after surgery, (click here to access your pre- and post-op diet guidelines).
- Medications: Stop taking hormones, herbals, birth control medications 30 days prior to surgery. You must wait 30 days after surgery to resume these medications. You may be required to stop taking blood thinning medications like plavix and anti-inflammatory medications including but not limited to Motrin, Advil, Aleve, Celebrex, Ibuprofen, steroid pills, shots, and creams one week (7 days) prior to surgery. You may be able to resume these medications one week after surgery. If you are on coumadin or warfarin, special blood tests will be needed prior to any surgery. If any of your pills are larger than a plain M&M, ask your pharmacist if they may be crushed or cut into smaller pieces. Please start taking a multi-vitamin now if you are considering surgery. Medications will be discussed in greater detail in your pre-op education classes.
THE BAND IS A TOOL. The band can be defeated with high-calorie liquids and soft food like ice cream, refried beans, guacamole, sour cream, cheese sauces, etc., etc., etc., Success requires lifelong commitment to healthy eating, behavioral change and long-term follow-up. You can expect gradual weight loss of at least 1 to 2 pounds per week. Your long term weight loss should be approximately 50%-70% in 3 to 5 years.