Lap-Band Surgery
Lap-Band Diet
After Surgery
Ongoing Care
Cost of Lap Band
Medicare/Medicaid
Lap-Band Financing
Patient criteria for Lap-Band surgery is based on the guidelines set by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), recommended for individuals 100 pounds or more above ideal body weight or a BMI of 40 or greater, or a BMI of 35 with obesity-associated health conditions.
Consumer Guide to Lap-Band Surgery Procedure
Life after Lap-Band Surgery
For those individuals who have had the Lap-Band surgery performed, their lifestyle will change in many different ways and it is important to consider one's life after Lap-Band. Many changes that the Lap-Band patient will incur after placement of the Lap-Band include eating habits, food intake and more. The following paragraphs will highlight some of these changes, both short-term and long-term, and describe how an individual's life may be after having the Lap-Band surgery performed.
Short-Term Changes
There is one short-term change in particular which an individual will have to make post-surgery. For the first few weeks following surgery, the Lap-Band patient will need to limit their food intake to liquids. Items such as water, clear soups and broth and juice will be the majority of the patient's food intake for the first two weeks. From the second to third week, the individual may have pureed and/or soft foods. When the individual is four weeks post-operative they can start eating regular foods. After about the sixth week, the individual will be able to start their new post-Lap-Band diet.
Long-Term Changes
Once the individual is about six weeks post-operative surgery, they will then start their diet regimen that should be followed so long as they have the Lap-Band in place. One type of long-term change that the individual will see is with regard to their eating habits. It is recommended that individuals who have the Lap-Band in place do not drink while they eat their meals, eat 3 small meals a day, do not snack in between meals and eat slowly when they do eat their meals.
After Lap Band Surgery, the best way to get exercise is to engage in fun activities.
Another long-term change will also be seen with regard to the overall nutritional intake of the Lap-Band patient. It is important for the patient to choose items from each of the food groups and choose items from each group which are lower in fat content. Those who have had the Lap-Band surgery performed should avoid certain foods as well. Items that are high in fat and have higher contents of sugars in them should be avoided when at all possible. Even though an individual has the Lap-Band in place, it does not mean that they can eat whatever they want whenever they want. It is important to take steps in the right direction in order to aid the Lap-Band in doing what it is supposed to do.
Exercise is an additional long-term change which Lap-Band patients will have to make after they have had this surgery performed. In order to enable the Lap-Band to work to its maximum potential, it is important that exercise is engaged in on a daily basis. It is recommended that an individual who has undergone Lap-Band surgery exercises 30 minutes a day, 7 days a week. There are a number of activities individuals can engage in so that they may obtain their exercise goals each day. The best way to get the exercise that is needed is to engage in fun activities that will also count as exercise such as hiking, walking or biking.