Lap Band / Laparoscopic Surgery - Bariatric Surgery
Adjustable Gastric Banding System
As you consider the benefits of open v. laparoscopic surgery, you’ll need to gather as much information as possible in order to make an informed decision. Below are several factors that should be relevant in your analysis. The background of the open v. laparoscopic surgery dichotomy dates back only a few years, as the open technique was used for years before the newer and more modern laparoscopic approach grew in prevalence.
Lap Band Surgery - Are You a Candidate?
The best candidates for either type of bariatric surgery are those people who are obese for at least five years and are facing potential health risks due to their obesity. Generally, these best candidates have a BMI of at least 40, and almost all of them have attempted at least one other weight loss technique that did not succeed.
Lap Band Surgery Procedures & Risk
There risk associated with any surgery, and whether you undergo the open or laparoscopic procedure, the uncertainty and risk are similar. Although statistically minor in number, patients may have to deal with infections and bleeding, nutritional problems and dumping syndrome, whereby food ingested is not properly digested and feelings of nausea and dizziness result. For more specific information as it relates to your individual situation, you need to contact a cosmetic surgeon for a full, complete and detailed consultation and evaluation.
Where Lap Band Surgery is Performed
Regardless of whether your doctor uses the open or laparoscopic method. Given the nature of the procedure, this surgery is always performed in the hospital.
Anesthesia and Lap Band Surgery
Given the invasiveness of either method of bariatric surgery that’s used, general anesthesia is always administered. This means that a patient will not be awake during the surgery.
Planning for Lap Band Surgery
Planning for surgery is a collective effort between you and your doctor. Generally, planning for surgery involves making sure that you’ve blocked off enough time to recover properly and that you understand the lifestyle changes that will be necessary after the procedure to ensure a positive result.
Preparing for Lap Band Surgery
Preparing for surgery also involves a collective effort between you and your doctor, and these preparations include any guidelines involving diet, fluid intake and exercise as they lead towards your surgery and being psychologically prepared for the diligence required after the surgery to continue your weight loss and maximize your chances for success.
How Lap Band Surgery is Performed
How surgery is performed depends on the method you use. The open bariatric surgery method involves a large incision in the abdomen and larger instruments. The laparoscopic method involves a smaller incision, smaller instruments and a camera that helps guide those instruments to the target area.
Recovery from Lap Band Surgery
Post-op considerations are extremely important with bariatric surgery, regardless of the method used. These surgeries are the beginning, rather than the end, of the weight loss process, which means that you’ll need to follow a strict diet and exercise program.
Lap Band Surgery Questions & Answers
Where are incisions placed for a laparoscopic bariatric surgery procedure?
The incision or incisions needed for a laparoscopic bariatric surgery are always placed in the abdominal region. However, as opposed to the open incision method, the incisions used with laparoscopic bariatric surgery are quite small in nature. The theory behind this strategy is that smaller incisions generally reduce the chances of any incision/wound-related complications arising.
What are some variations to the common laparoscopic bariatric surgery method?
There are very few variations to the common laparoscopic bariatric method. Generally speaking, many medical professionals consider the laparoscopic method as a whole a variation from the “traditional” open incision method, but smaller variations within the laparoscopic method do exist in the form of incisions being placed in different parts of the abdomen and different types of instruments being used to guide the surgeon.
What can I expect the day of surgery to be like?
The day of your surgery will go by quickly. You will be placed under general anesthesia, which means that you won’t remember the surgery itself, but you will remember the hours leading up to your procedure. Patients always experience a wide range of emotions that day, including fear, anxiety, excitement and overall anticipation. These feelings are quite normal, which means that you need to be prepared to handle them.
How will I look and feel immediately following the surgery?
Your first memory after the surgery is complete will most likely entail a feeling of grogginess, as you’ll be waking up from anesthesia in the recovery room. Beyond that, you will feel some soreness, as the surgery itself is somewhat invasive. You’ll look much better, but the long-term results will take some time to achieve.
When can I pursue my normal activities again?
You’ll need some time to resume your normal activities. You should expect to stay in the hospital for at least two days after the surgery is complete merely as a precaution. After you’re released, you’ll need at least three weeks to resume your active pursuits, but you should be up and around and functional within a week of the procedure’s completion.
How long can I expect results to last?
The surgery itself is only the beginning of the process of bringing your obesity under control. It’s an important first step, but you’ll need to follow the after-care guidelines carefully to make sure that the procedure is successful and so that complications don’t arise. If you follow the dietary and exercise guidelines, there’s no reason to expect that these results won’t last a lifetime and that your overall health and psychological outlook will improve dramatically.
If you’d like more specific information, contact a board certified bariatric surgeon today for a complete consultation.
Bariatrics 
