FAQ

FAQ

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• Will I be sick a lot after the operation?

  The Realize Band and LAP-BAND Systems limit 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 dietary 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.

• How long will it take to recover after surgery?

  If Realize Band or LAP-BAND System surgery 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.

• How much weight will I lose?

  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.

• How do the weight-loss results with the Realize Band and LAP-BAND Systems compare to those with the gastric bypass?

  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.

• Do the Realize Band or LAP-BAND Systems require frequent office visits after surgery?

  Check-ups are a normal and a very important part of the follow-up and will be scheduled by your surgeon.

• Do the Realize Band or LAP-BAND Systems limit any physical activity?

  The Realize Band and LAP-BAND Systems do not affect or hamper physical activity including aerobics, stretching and strenuous exercise.

• How is the band adjusted?

  Adjustments are usually accomplished in the surgeon's office by inserting a fine needle 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.

• Do I have to be careful with the access port just underneath my skin?

  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, let us know as soon as possible.

• Can the band be removed?

  Although the Realize Band and LAP-BAND Systems are not meant to be removed, they can be. In some cases this can be accomplished laparoscopically. The stomach generally returns to its original shape once the band is removed. Though after the removal, you may soon go back up to your original weight or even gain more.

• Will I need plastic surgery for the excess skin when I have lost a lot of weight?

  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.

• Is it true that the Realize Band or LAP-BAND Systems seem "tighter" in the morning?

  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 Realize Band or LAP-BAND System feels tighter during menstruation.

• Will I feel hungry or deprived with the Realize Band or LAP-BAND System?

  The Realize Band and LAP-BAND Systems make 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 LAP-BAND System is a tool to help you change your eating habits.

• What will happen if I become ill?

  One of the major advantages of the LAP-BAND 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.

• What about pregnancy?

  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.

• Will I need to take vitamin supplements?

  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.

• What about other medication?

  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 stomach and make you sick. You should discuss this with the doctor who prescribes the medication.

• What if I go out to eat?

  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.

• What about alcohol?

  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.

• Can I eat anything in moderation?

  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 recommended in the nutrition section of this booklet and as 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 Realize Band or LAP-BAND System may be greatly reduced or canceled.

• Will I suffer from constipation?

  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, let us know as soon as possible.

• How much pain can I expect after surgery?

  Although the Realize Band and LAP-BAND Systems are minimally invasive procedures, you can expect some soreness, especially where the access port is, but it should subside after a few days. It’s important to try to walk as much as you can comfortably, so that you’ll regain strength and prevent blood clots, but take it slowly.

• When can I expect to return to work?

  During the first week after surgery, allow yourself to recover and get plenty of rest. In about a week, you should be able to return to work, provided it’s not physically demanding. For more physically active jobs, you will need two to three weeks to recover. Within four to six weeks, you should be able to resume all normal activity and start a new exercise program.

• When will I be able to eat after surgery?

  After surgery, you’ll need a new nutrition plan. You’ll learn about the healthy changes you can and need to make in your diet and lifestyle from the staff at the NIX Weight Loss Surgery Center. It’s very important, for your overall success, to follow your new eating and drinking instructions beginning immediately after the surgery. In the first few weeks after your surgery, you will be on a liquid diet, since only thin liquids will be tolerated by your stomach at that time. As you heal, you will gradually progress to pureed foods (three to four weeks post-op) and then soft foods (five weeks post-op). Finally, after about six weeks, you will be able to eat solid foods.

• When will I have to have my first band adjustment?

  The first adjustment usually occurs four to six weeks after surgery—although the exact time varies from patient to patient. The LAP-BAND System is designed to help you achieve steady and safe weight loss, so you and your surgeon will decide when the time is right for you to have your first adjustment. At your first adjustment appointment, you should expect to discuss your eating habits, exercise, and rate of weight loss. This will help determine if it’s time for you to have a band adjustment.

• How much weight can I expect to lose?

  Weight loss is a gradual process. Most people lose about one to three pounds per week for the first year. In the second year, the weight may come off more slowly or you may even stay the same for several weeks. You should share your goals and your progress with your doctor and he/she can recommend the best plan of action to lose or maintain weight in the years following your surgery.

• Do some people fail to lose weight after surgery?

  Weight loss surgery is a tool to help you lose weight that also requires effort and commitment on the part of the individual. This includes following a healthy diet, exercising regularly, following up regularly with a physician and attending support group meetings. There have been cases where patients have not lost enough weight or do not lose the amount of weight they expected, but typically a person’s success is directly related to their commitment to the post-surgical program and recommendations, since the surgical process is only part of the overall weight loss equation.

• Can I regain weight after weight loss surgery?

  The largest amount of weight loss occurs in the first six months. Most people continue to lose weight slowly for the following 12-18 months. Weight loss typically plateaus at two years and some people will regain a small portion. It is very important to follow the diet and lifetstyle recommendations you receive from the staff at the NIX Weight Loss Surgery Center and your surgeon in order to ensure your weight loss success and maintenance.

• What will happen to my skin after surgery?

  Excess skin may sag after surgery therefore some people choose to undergo reconstructive surgery to further tone and enhance their figure. Skin sagging can be minimized with proper diet and exercise.

• Who can have weight loss surgery?

  Bariatric surgery may be an option for people who are morbidly obese (BMI >40) or severely obese (BMI >35) with obesity-related health problems) and who cannot lose weight by traditional methods. Click here to calculate your BMI.

• I’m interested in getting more information on the Realize Band and LAP-BAND weight loss procedures, what should I do?

  If you think that you qualify and are interested in learning more, please register for one of our free informational seminars either online or by calling 210-226-1726.