FAQ’s
Do I qualify for weight loss surgery?
The LAP-BAND® system can help adults, over the age 18 who have a BMI (body mass index) of >40 or BMI of > 35 with significant co-morbidities (such as diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea). An evaluation by the surgeon will help determine if you are an appropriate surgical candidate. We also have you evaluated by the members of our counseling care team and our dietitian. Use our BMI Calculator to determine your body mass index.
What is the recovery time after surgery?
Within several hours after surgery, we expect you to be out of bed and walking. Our patients typically spend 1 night in the hospital. There tends to be only a minor amount of post-operative pain and discomfort and patients typically return to work within 1-2 weeks. A gentle exercise program may be initiated 1 month after surgery.
What can I eat after surgery?
Solids: Once you have healed from the surgery, you can eat normal foods. However, you will eat a significantly smaller amount. You will be encouraged to eat high protein, low caloric foods. You will learn to chew your food well and stop eating when you feel full. Eating too much at once or not chewing your food thoroughly may cause discomfort, reflux or vomiting.
Liquids: It is also important to drink low caloric beverages throughout the day. It is recommended that you separate solid foods and beverages. After eating a meal, you should wait for 30 minutes before consuming liquids. This will prevent food from slipping through the band and keep you feeling full for a longer period of time.
Vitamins/minerals: We do recommend that you take a daily multivitamin and calcium supplement.
Foods to avoid: There are a few foods that should be avoided because they can plug the narrow band passageway. Doughy bread, sticky rice, fresh fibrous vegetables and reheated pasta can cause an obstruction of the band.
What kind of weight loss should I expect?
Patients will generally lose 1-2 pounds per week after the initial post-operative period. Individual results will vary. We would like to see you lose 60% of your excess body weight over 1-2 years after surgery (about 100 pounds).
Typically when you lose weight, there will be a significant improvement in other medical co-morbidities (such as diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma and sleep apnea). Many patients will no longer need medications for these conditions.
Will my insurance cover the procedure?
Each insurance company has different policies regarding weight loss surgery. The first step is to call and ask them! We also have specialists who can assist you with this process and find out more about your insurance requirements and coverage. Southern Minnesota Surgical also has self-pay options available to interested individuals.
Insurance Coverage Essentials…
Obesity is more and more frequently recognized as a serious disease these days, and as a result, many health insurance plans now cover the cost of weight loss surgery (also known as bariatric surgery).
If you have an individual health insurance policy, you can find out whether your plan covers bariatric procedures by looking through your benefits booklet under “weight loss surgery”, “bariatric surgery” or “obesity”. If you can’t find information on coverage of weight loss surgery there, call your insurance company customer service number. Be sure to write down the date and time of your call and the name of the representative with whom you speak — you may need this information later. Also, you may not want to disclose any information about your health or the specific procedure you may be considering. You want to ask simply whether bariatric surgery is a covered benefit under your health care plan.
If weight loss surgery is a covered benefit under your plan, the customer service representative can explain how to file your claim. If it isn’t, find out why! Some companies specifically exclude weight loss surgery from their plans, or require you to meet certain medical criteria in order to receive coverage. For example, some carriers will cover weight loss surgery if you can prove that it is a medical necessity. If you can show them a dietitian’s evaluation of your obesity, a psychological evaluation, and proof that you’ve followed a physician-supervised diet for a year or so, you might qualify.
In any case, keep after your insurance company until they give in or give you a final “no”. If “no” is their final answer, don’t despair. You may be able to pay for your weight loss surgery out-of-pocket. This isn’t as impossible as you might think: financing options and special pricing plans may be available for patients who don’t qualify for insurance coverage. In addition, patients often find that after weight loss surgery, they are able to eliminate the cost of prescriptions and frequent visits to their primary care physician because many of the health conditions related to their weight have been resolved.
We are happy to help you find out whether your insurance carrier will cover the cost of your weight loss surgery procedure, and work with your carrier to coordinate all necessary documentation. We can also help you arrange alternate payment options, if necessary. Please call our office if we can be of any assistance.
How do the weight-loss results with the LAP-BAND® compare to those with the gastric bypass?
Surgeons have reported that gastric bypass patients lose weight faster in the first year. At five years, however, many Lap-Band® patients have achieved weight loss comparable to that of gastric bypass patients. 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.
Does the LAP-BAND limit any physical activity?
The Lap-Band® does not hamper physical activity including aerobics, stretching and strenuous exercise.
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 any physical exercise. The only sensation you may experience from the port occurs when you go in for adjustments. If you feel persistent discomfort in the port area, let us know as soon as possible.
Will I need plastic/re-constructive surgery for the excess skin when I have lost a lot of weight?
That is not always the case. The age of the individual, the total amount of weight loss, the pace with which the weight is lost and the amount of exercise and muscle toning during the weight-loss period all contribute to the need for re-constructive surgery. On the average, of all of our highly successful patients, 1/3 will not need any intervention, 1/3 will need it but may choose against it due to concerns about the outcome and the cost of re-constructive surgery and 1/3 go ahead with some kind of re-constructive surgery with very good results.
Is it true that the the gastric band often seems “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 redistributes itself and this may cause the band to feel “tighter” some of the time. Some women have also noticed that the Lap-Band® feels tighter during menstruation.
Will I feel hungry or deprived with a gastric band?
The gastric band works through a combination of portion control and elimination of hunger. As a result, despite eating very small amounts, a person should not battle hunger throughout the day. One of the components of healthy eating with a band is to never deprive yourself. Accordingly, when you feel hungry, you should enjoy a solid snack which is rich in protein. Examples include a handful of mixed nuts, a protein bar, or a hardboiled egg.
What will happen if I become ill?
One of the major advantages of the gastric band is that it can be adjusted. If your illness requires you to eat or drink 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.
Will I be able to throw up if I have to?
Throwing up might become necessary such as when you have eaten “bad” food. Although the band creates a substantial resistance against “passive” movement of stomach acid up into the esophagus, the “active” process of throwing up is often accomplished without much difficulty. Having said that, it might become necessary for us to empty the band when a patient has become ill to make the process of throwing up even easier.
What about pregnancy?
Becoming pregnant can be easier as you lose weight. Your menstrual cycles may become more regular. Many patients who have failed to become pregnant before losing weight find themselves becoming pregnant after unprotected intercourse. As a general rule, it is neither good for a patient to gain a whole lot of weight nor is it good to lose a whole lot of weight during pregnancy. Accordingly, the decision to empty the band might have to be individualized. It is very important for a patient to let us know if and when they know about their pregnancy so we can closely monitor their weight and their overall health.
Will I suffer from constipation?
Given the overall lower volume of food and beverages, you might find your stools harder after gastric banding. It is important for you to consume an adequate amount of non-caloric beverages (water, unsweetened iced tea, sugar-free/diet beverages, etc.) during the day. But in an effort to avoid helping your pouch empty the food that has recently been consumed, you should concentrate on drinking when your pouch is empty already which is typically just before you are getting ready to sit down and eat your next meal.
Will I need to take vitamin supplements?
Since it is possible to not get enough vitamins from three small meals a day, all of our patients are encouraged to take daily vitamin and calcium supplements during the period in which they are aggressively losing weight.
What about other medication?
You should be able to take prescribed medication though you may need to adjust their dosage. As a general rule, anti-hypertensives (medications for high blood pressure), hypoglycemics (medications for diabetes), diuretics (water pills), and blood thinners (Warfarin/Coumadin) will need special attention. Please let both your surgeon and your primary care physician know about your medications, especially around the time of your initial operation.
What if I go out to eat?
Order only a small amount of food, such as an appetizer. Don’t feel obligated to finish the entire meal and stop as soon as you feel full. Get in the habit of sharing meals with others or bringing home left-overs.
What about alcohol?
Alcohol has a high number of calories and breaks down vitamins. An occasional glass of wine or other alcoholic beverage, though, is not considered harmful to weight loss.
I want to become a healthier me! What now?
Your next step is to call (507)526-3460 or 1-888-925-3460 and make an appointment at Southern Minnesota Surgical Inc. for an individual consultation.
To learn more general information about our program and the Lap-Band® surgery, we encourage you to attend one of our free seminars. See our schedule.