Life After Lap Band – What To Expect After Lap Band Surgery
Deciding to get lap band surgery in Mexico is a big step for a lot of people. The gastric band is a reversible and adjustable alternative to the gastric sleeve and gastric bypass procedures. It restricts the amount of food you can eat, which makes weight loss with diet and exercise a lot easier and more reliable.
However, it’s still a surgical procedure and you still need to know what recovery, diet, and the follow-ups are like in order to understand the consequences of the procedure. So what can you expect after getting Lap-Band surgery? Let’s find out.
What to Expect After Lap Band Surgery
Life After Lap Band Surgery
Recovery
One positive aspect of the Lap-Band is that recovery isn’t nearly as lengthy and most people can return to work within days of having the procedure.
However, abdominal discomfort is a common side effect that many people experience during recovery. This discomfort is often alleviated after getting the band adjusted.
Diet
Unlike the gastric bypass and gastric sleeve which are procedures that change the way your digestive system works, the Lap-Band simply restricts the amount of food that your stomach can hold. As a result, you won’t go through a lengthy recovery diet.
Instead, your doctor will tell you how you should be eating after surgery. In general, you will have to cut out a wide variety of foods such as fatty foods, spicy foods, carbonated drinks, foods high in fiber, and tough meats.
Hydration will also be a concern, as you won’t be able to drink as much water in a single sitting. Check out this article about eating out after bariatricsurgery!
Expected Weight Loss After Lap-Band Surgery
Lap-Band patients can generally expect to lose around half of their excess weight between 3 and 5 years after the initial procedure. You can expect to lose between 1 and 2 pounds per week, with weight loss slowing down over time.
Follow Up Procedure
After getting your adjustable gastric band installed, you will have your band adjusted on a regular basis. The first adjustment is usually scheduled 4 to 6 weeks after the initial surgery. This is not a surgical procedure and is done by inserting saline into the band through a port that is installed during the initial surgery.
These adjustments are normal and are meant to help figure out the right amount of restriction that will keep you full without eating too much food.
ALO Bariatrics provides weight loss surgery in Mexico (Tijuana) at a fraction of the cost in the US.