Gastric lap-band surgery is an aggressive treatment for morbid obesity that involves altering the structure of your stomach. Following surgery, it is crucial that you follow a proper diet and participate in a daily exercise routine. These two factors are necessary in achieving your desired weight loss.
LAP-BAND Surgery
During LAP-BAND, or gastric banding, surgery, an inflatable band is placed around the upper part of your stomach, separating it from the lower end of your stomach. This creates a small pouch at the top with a narrow opening leading to the larger, lower part of the stomach. The small pouch restricts the amount of food you can consume at one time. The narrow opening increases the amount of time it takes food to leave your stomach, making you feel full for a longer period of time. Combined, these two factors help patients sustain weight loss by limiting food intake, reducing appetite, and slowing digestion.
Diet
Your diet following LAP-BAND surgery plays a critical role in your health during recovery and weight loss. The first day or two, you should only drink small amounts of water or clear liquids, as you do not want to stretch out the small stomach. Following this, you follow a diet of only thin liquids such as clear soup, fruit juice and skim milk. After about two weeks, you can begin to incorporate slightly textured foods, with a consistency similar to baby food. Good items to eat include pureed chicken and fish, peas and low-fat yogurt. Five weeks after surgery, you can begin to consume tender foods like fish and ground turkey. Once you can eat solid foods, you should still monitor your diet. Too much food can block your new stomach opening. You should avoid high fiber foods and chew your food well. Liquids will continue to pass through your stomach quickly, making you feel less full and jeopardizing your weight loss. Your stomach will only hold about 2 oz. at a time.
Exercise
You should continue, or begin, exercising after your surgery. Including regular physical activity in your daily routine is as important as your nutrition plan. After LAP-BAND, aerobic exercises, such as walking and swimming, are best tolerated. The University of California, San Diego Medical Center recommends getting 30 minutes of physical activity every day. The procedure does not hamper any physical or strenuous activity.
Prognosis
LAP-BAND surgery is an effective treatment for obesity; however, it does require post-op work. You must continue to exercise and eat properly in order to achieve your desired results. Most patients lose about 5 to 10 pounds each month. Within the first year, patients lose about 50 percent of their excess body weight, although you may continue to lose weight up to three years after surgery.
References
- University of California, San Diego: Gastric Banding with Lap-Band or Realize Band
- University of California, San Diego: LAP BAND Diet Guidelines
- University of California, San Diego: Exercise Guidelines
- University of California, San Diego: LAP BAND Questions and Answers
- University of California, San Diego: Results
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Laparoscopic gastric banding; Feb. 12, 2009
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