What Is Lap-Band Surgery?
Lap-Band surgery is geared for the morbidly obese and those at risk for various diseases associated with obesity. Diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease are just a few side effects of obesity. In Lap-Band surgery, the surgeon puts a band around the upper portion of the stomach, turning the top of the stomach into a small pouch; the ring can be adjusted, making the opening to the bottom pouch larger or smaller. The smaller stomach pouch is where ingested food now goes, and because it is so small, there is a faster feeling of fullness. As time goes by, the band can stretch, and the surgeon can readjust the size of the band by injecting saline into a port just under the skin.
Temporary Limits
Lap-Band surgery is designed to limit the amount of food taken in, not necessarily the type. According to guidelines from the University of California, San Diego Medical Center, some foods are off limits immediately after the surgery. For the first 24 hours after surgery, only liquids are allowed, and these should be consumed a small amount at a time. Along with water, recommended liquids are nutritional and high-caloric juices. For one to four weeks post-procedure, only soft foods and liquid are permitted, including yogurt, Jello, broths and juices. Between four and six weeks after the Lap-Band placement, thicker foods are added, and eventually solid foods in small quantities.
Foods to Continue to Avoid
Due to the smaller size of the stomach pouch, it is important to eat nutritious food. Patients fill up quickly after the Lap-Band procedure, so food quality needs to be optimal to make up for the low quantity. The body needs nutrition for proper cellular function to keep the organs healthy. Foods containing simple sugars, such as pies, cakes and donuts, should be avoided, as they are filling but full of empty calories that provide little to no nutrition. Foods high in fiber, such as popcorn, nuts and celery, should also be avoided after Lap-Band surgery; while they are high in nutrition, the excess fiber can bind together and block the outlet of the stomach pouch, causing intestinal distress. Fried, fatty foods should also be limited, as they provide the feeling of fullness without adequate nutrition.
Meal Tips
When you eat after the Lap-Band procedure, there are a few tips to remember to maintain optimal health. Food intake should be limited to three small meals per day. Water or other beverages should not be consumed 45 minutes before or after a meal, as beverages can dilute the stomach acids necessary for digestion. Food should be chewed slowly and deliberately to help the digestive process.
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