A balanced nutrition and conducting periodic adjustments are necessary for optimal results with the Lap Band.
What is an adjustment?
The Lap Band is a silicone ring designed to create a new smaller stomach pouch that can hold less food, thus maintaining a sense of fullness. The band controls the stoma (stomach outlet) between the new upper pouch and lower stomach pouch by regulating the flow of food. The surgeon can change the stoma size by inserting or removing saline through the port of the band. The adjustment process, known as filling, helps weight loss.
How to Prepare for a fill
There should be no food in the stomach when a patient is having a band adjustment. It is recommended that the patient only takes liquids and makes sure there is no food in the bag.
Lap Band Adjustment Procedure
The procedure for setting the Band Adjustments are made with a fluoroscopy study at our center. This test allows the surgeon to see the placement of the band and the stomach before and after the adjustment. This is to ensure that the amount of filling is enough to give the required level of restriction to continue with weight loss. The procedure takes less than 15 minutes on average, and causes very little pain.
First fill
After placing the gastric band, it is usually left empty. This allows the patient to get used to the band and allows the inflammation to go down around the area where the band was placed. The adjustments are not usually out until after 6 or 8 weeks after surgery. The exact time varies from patient to patient.
What is the frequency of adjustments of the Lap Band?
It is important to remember that before your first, second or third filling, you may not feel any restriction to eat. This is normal. You feel that you can eat everything and anything. During these times, try to focus on a diet that is high in protein and low in carbohydrates. Although rare, there are cases in which patients only need one fill to lose all of their excess weight. You won’t need to go back for an appointment if everything goes well and your restriction level is appropriate.
