fbpx

Month: March 2020

Lap-Band® can be a successful tool for many people. Nina was one of those individuals who found success with the procedure. There are numerous benefits to the procedure that make it a great choice for many individuals.

Weight loss

Nina Brown was 360 pounds when she decided it was time to make a change. She learned about the Lap-Band and decided to take control of her health. “I can’t believe I looked like that and treated my body like that,” she says. “That’s not me now, not at all.”

Nina lost 220 pounds with the Lap-Band and has kept it off for 6 years now. “I got to a point where I had to make myself happy, not because of what I looked like, but because of what I felt like. I had to address what I felt like inside and outside,” she says.

Less invasive

The Lap-Band is a minimally invasive procedure. It is also customizable and reversible, unlike other bariatric surgeries. This means there is less time spent in the hospital after the procedure, and there’s less recovery time. Those factors appeal to many individuals, including Nina. “Lap-Band is the least invasive of the weight-loss surgeries, which is the number one reason I chose it,” Nina says.

Improves health conditions and lifestyle

The Lap-Band has the power to help individuals change their lifestyle for the better. Not only will you learn from your team about the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle, but you’ll be able to achieve that lifestyle. You may notice that weight-related conditions and diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes, improve. “After my surgery, maybe a couple months out, I was able to get off blood pressure medication. My achy joints were cured and I was healthier,” Nina says. She now enjoys swimming and running. She can play at the park all day with her son, and simple things have become easier, like breathing while she walks. “I never lived life before the Lap-Band surgery,” she says. 

Nina never thought she’d do so well with the Lap-Band and get such great results, but the motivation from her support team—especially those at LapBand of Louisville—kept her going, and she is grateful she took the opportunity Lap-Band offered her.

*Results and patient’s experiences may vary.

If you’ve had the Lap-Band® Procedure for a year or longer, by now you know that your life looks drastically different than it did one year ago. However, if you’re still considering the procedure and how your life will change, this blog is for you. Read on to learn more about what you can expect one year after the Lap-Band Surgery.

At about six months after you have the Lap-Band Procedure, your stomach will be healed. Your first adjustments will happen four to six weeks after surgery, and you may have had one or two more adjustments around the six-month period. At the one-year mark, you may have stabilized and will no longer require adjustments to your band to increase or stabilize weight loss. If you have plateaued and aren’t losing weight for more than three weeks, and you aren’t at your goal weight, you may require another adjustment to the band.

You will see results fairly quickly after having the Lap-Band Procedure. So what does weight loss will look like one year after the procedure? With the Lap-Band, patients lose weight slowly and steadily. After just one year, most patients have achieved their weight-loss goals. Studies show that 46% of excess weight is lost after one year passes. If patients had comorbid diseases related to excess weight when they had the surgery, the conditions have typically improved or reversed by this point.

The six months following the procedure may be difficult for some as they adjust to new life patterns, including eating new foods, eating less, chewing slowly and mindfully, and being more active. By one year, patients have typically adjusted to their new, healthier lifestyle. The Lap-Band is a great tool for weight loss, but it requires a commitment to lifelong change. Even after drastic weight loss one year after the procedure, patients will still need to maintain their commitment to a healthy, balanced lifestyle.

Source:

  • Dixon John, O’Brien Paul. Health Outcomes of Severely Obese Type 2 Diabetic Subjects 1 Year After Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding. Diabetes Care, Volume 25, Number 2. February 2002.

Many people that are about to embark on the Lap-Band® Procedure, or are at least weighing the options, wonder if excess skin removal will be necessary once they’ve lost a majority of their weight. Many patients will lose weight in excess of 100 pounds, which can cause excess skin around the belly. Some individuals may become so frustrated with their excess skin, that they feel as if the way they feel on the inside does not match how they look on the outside.

If you have excess skin following bariatric surgery, you can opt to meet with a plastic surgeon and talk about having loose skin removed. Plastic surgeons can complete a series of surgeries to trim excess skin from different areas of the body called body contouring. While many consider plastic surgery to be a cosmetic procedure, it can actually be considered a practical procedure for individuals with excess skin. The loose skin can become uncomfortable—causing rashes and chafing. Sometimes, it can become a medical necessity to have it removed because of infection. Body contouring can be done on the tummy area, chest, face, thighs, and upper arms. The surgeries are both a time and money commit, and patients need to mentally prepare for the surgeries because they require months of recovery. However, the procedures are highly effective in removing excess skin and helping to reshape the tissue.

It is important to note that loose skin after weight loss is most common when weight is lost very quickly and drastically. Because the Lap-Band helps you lose weight more gradually than other bariatric procedures, you may not experience saggy skin. It also depends largely upon your body; everyone is different, and age and skin quality plays a role. One of the ways in which you can help prevent saggy skin during weight loss is to not only focus on gradual weight loss that will give your skin adequate time to contract and adjust, but to build muscle and take care of your skin. Use sunscreen, don’t smoke, avoid high alcohol consumption, and follow a healthy diet.

It’s important to note that, if you do experience excess skin after major weight loss, it is your decision whether or not you elect to have it removed. You should wait approximately one year after you’ve lost most of your weight to give your skin enough time to adjust and tighten. If you aren’t satisfied after one year, then talk with a doctor.

Source: