After Surgery Considerations
Lap-Band® surgery is probably the least invasive form of weight loss surgery commonly practiced. However, even the Lap-Band® procedure is still surgery, and all forms of surgery involve an incision – even if the wound is a small slit the size of a coin. Happily, a two day hospital stay is generally the maximum following a Lap-Band® operation. Even so, you should prepare yourself for the discomfort and inconvenience that come with surgery, and know what lies ahead in terms of long-term aftercare prior to having the procedure.
Your new life begins when the surgery ends, starting with your new diet — clear fluids and gelatin only at first! Your first day post-surgery can be challenging, too – you’ll be expected to get up and walk around, both to boost your morale and to help reduce the risk of a blood clot. So, when the nurse tells you to do a few laps up and down the halls, grin and bear it!
On day two it’s more walking, plus pureed foods (you’ll start to feel hungry again, since your IV comes out this day) and some nice oral pain medication if you want it. By midday on day two post-op, you’ll almost certainly be discharged and on your way home.
The remainder of the recovery process should be quick and without serious complications. You’ll likely be back to your normal routine in a week or so and fully recovered within two weeks.
After that, you’ll receive regular follow-up care, starting with a check-up by your doctor. He or she will keep tabs on your weight loss and adjust the tension of your Lap-Band® as needed by draining or refilling the adjustable gastric band with saline via the port underneath your skin. Getting a fill takes only a few minutes and is an in-office procedure.
Proper follow-up and ongoing aftercare are just as important to your long-term weight loss success as the Lap-Band® procedure itself. By actively participating in your post-op support after weight loss surgery, you can enjoy a new life free of the burdens of obesity.
Of course, please don’t hesitate to contact our office directly if you have specific questions about weight loss surgery. Each individual is different, and Dr. William Lee will gladly schedule a consultation to discuss your health history and determine whether weight loss surgery is the best course of treatment for your specific needs.