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Q: Is weight loss surgery covered by insurance?
A: Some policies will outright exclude weight loss surgeries. Others may have
certain parameters around which bariatric procedures they cover and how much
of the costs they cover. To determine if your insurance policy covers obesity,
weight loss or bariatric surgery, refer to the insurance policy package plan
offered by your employer.
Q: Will I be sick a lot after the operation?
A: The gastric banding system limits food intake. If you feel nauseated or sick
on a regular basis, it may mean that you are not chewing your food well or that
you are not following the diet rules properly. However, it could also mean that
there is a problem with the placement of the band so you should contact us if
this problem persists. Vomiting should be avoided as much as possible. It can
cause the small stomach pouch to stretch. It can also lead to slippage of part
of the stomach through the band, which would reduce the success of the operation.
In some cases, it would also require another operation.
Q: How long will it take to recover after surgery?
A: If the gastric banding system is performed laparoscopically, patients typically
spend less than 24 hours in the hospital. It takes most patients about a week
to return to work and a month to six weeks to resume exercising. In the case
of open surgery or if there are complications, recovery may take longer.
Q: How much weight will I lose?
A: Weight-loss results vary from patient to patient, and the amount of weight
you may lose depends on several things. The band needs to be in the right position,
and you need to be committed to your new lifestyle and eating habits. Obesity
surgery is not a miracle cure, and the pounds won't come off by themselves. It
is very important to set achievable weight-loss goals from the beginning. A weight
loss of 2 to 3 pounds a week in the first year after the operation is possible,
but one pound a week is more likely. Twelve to eighteen months after the operation,
weekly weight loss is usually less. Remember that you should lose weight gradually.
Losing weight too fast creates a health risk and can lead to a number of problems.
Your main goal is to have weight loss that prevents, improves, or resolves health
problems connected with severe obesity.
Q: How do the weight-loss results with the gastric banding system
compare to those with the gastric bypass?
A: You should focus on long-term weight loss and remember that it is important
to lose weight gradually while reducing obesity-related risks and improving your
health.
Q: Does the gastric banding system require frequent office visits
after surgery?
A: Check-ups are a normal and very important part of the LAP-BAND System follow-up.
Q: Does the gastric band limit any physical activity?
A: No, the gastric band does not affect or hamper physical activity including
aerobics, stretching and strenuous exercise.
Q: How is the band adjusted?
A: Adjustments are often carried out in the X-ray department. They are done there
so the access port can be clearly seen. When X-rays are used, your reproductive
organs should be shielded. Sometimes adjustments can be done in an outpatient
clinic or office. Local anesthesia may or may not be needed. A fine needle is
passed through the skin into the access port to add or subtract saline. This
process most often takes only a few minutes. Most patients say it is nearly painless.
Q: Do I have to be careful with the access port just underneath
my skin?
A: There are no restrictions based on the access port. It is placed under the
skin in the abdominal wall, and once the incisions have healed it should not
cause discomfort or limit your movements or any physical exercise. The only sensation
you may have from the port is when you go in for adjustments. If you feel persistent
discomfort in the port area, talk to your doctor as soon as possible.
Q: Can the band be removed?
A: Although the gastric band is not meant to be removed, it can be. In some cases
this can be done laparoscopically. The stomach generally returns to its original
shape once the band is removed. After the removal, though, you may soon go back
up to your original weight or even gain more.
Q: Will I need plastic surgery for the surplus skin when I have
lost a lot of weight?
A: That is not always the case. As a rule, plastic surgery will not be considered
for at least a year or two after the operation. Sometimes the skin will mold
itself around the new body tissue. You should give the skin the time it needs
to adjust before you decide to have more surgery.
Q: Is it true that the gastric band seems "tighter" in
the morning?
A: This is a fairly common feeling, especially for people with bands that are
tight or just after an adjustment. During the day the water content in the body
changes and this may cause the band to feel "tighter" some of the time.
Some women have also noticed that the band feels tighter during menstruation.
Q: Will I feel hungry or deprived with the gastric band?
A: The band makes you eat less and feel full in two ways - by reducing the capacity
of your stomach and increasing the time it takes food to get through the digestive
system. After a small meal, the amount of which varies from person to person,
you should feel full. If you follow the nutrition guidelines when you choose
your food and then chew it well, you should not feel hungry or deprived. Remember
that the gastric band is a tool to help you change your eating habits.
Q: What will happen if I become ill?
A: One of the major advantages of the gastric banding system is that it can be
adjusted. If your illness requires you to eat more, the band can be loosened
by removing saline from it. When you have recovered from your illness and want
to lose weight again, the band can be tightened by increasing the amount of saline.
If the band cannot be loosened enough, it may have to be removed.
Q: What about pregnancy?
A: Becoming pregnant can be easier as you lose weight. Your menstrual cycle may
become more regular. If you need to eat more while you are pregnant, the band
can be loosened. After the pregnancy, the band may be made tighter again, and
you can resume losing weight.
Q: Will I need to take vitamin supplements?
A: You may. It's possible you may not get enough vitamins from three small meals
a day. At your regular check-ups, your specialist will evaluate whether you are
getting enough vitamin B12, folic acid, and iron.
Q: What about other medication?
A: You should be able to take prescribed medication. You may need to use capsules,
break big tablets in half or dissolve them in water so they do not get stuck
in the stoma and make you sick. You should always ask the doctor who prescribes
the drugs about this.
Q: What if I go out to eat?
A: Order only a small amount of food, such as an appetizer. Eat slowly. Finish
at the same time as your table companions. You might want to let your host or
hostess know in advance that you cannot eat very much.
Q: What about alcohol?
A: Alcohol has a high number of calories. It also breaks down vitamins. An occasional
glass of wine or other alcoholic beverage, though, is not considered harmful
to weight loss' 1
Q: Can I eat anything in moderation?
A: After your stomach has healed, you may eat most foods that don't cause you
discomfort. However, because you can only eat a little it is important to include
foods full of important vitamins and nutrients such as those advised by your
surgeon and/or dietitian. If you eat foods that contain lots of sugar and fat
or drink liquids full of "empty" calories, such as milkshakes, the
effect of the band may be greatly reduced or cancelled.
Q: Will I suffer from constipation?
A: There may be some reduction in the volume of your stools, which is normal
after a decrease in food intake because you eat less fiber. This should not cause
you severe problems. If difficulties do arise, talk to your doctor as soon as
possible.
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