The Side Effects of LAP-BAND® Surgery
The team at Tijuana Bariatrics wants to make sure that patients are confident about their weight loss surgery options. Even relatively simple-sounding bariatric procedures such as LAP-BAND® restrictive weight loss surgery involve their share of side effects and risks.
With this in mind, we'd like to go over some of the most common side effects that patients experienced after they undergo LAP-BAND® surgery. Knowing what to expect helps many patients make smart choices about their weight loss needs.
Post-Surgical Soreness and Discomfort
After any sort of surgery, pain and discomfort are common issues. After your LAP-BAND® procedure, your will notice discomfort around the abdominal area, particularly around the incision sites. Thankfully these are only temporary issues. The pain will decrease steadily in the days after the procedure, and pain relievers can be taken to reduce the discomfort you may feel.
Nausea and Vomiting
Nausea and vomiting are common side effects of different weight loss surgeries, though they tend to be more pronounced in the first days after surgery as you recover. The most common reasons of this tend to be diet related. As you are getting used to your new stomach size and dietary habits, you may notice that certain foods or that eating too fast can result in nausea. Try to take time and notice what triggers these bouts of nausea and vomiting.
If you notice that the vomiting and nausea are still common problems well after the surgery has been performed, be sure to discuss these issues with your bariatric surgeon. They can look into matters more closely and determine if a secondary surgery or other matters may need to be considered.
Slowing Down the Eating Process
Perhaps the biggest side effect of LAP-BAND® surgery (alluded to above) is that you will become a slower eater out of necessity. Not only can eating too fast cause nausea and vomiting. Eating too fast can also result in serious abdominal pain.
It's of the utmost importance that LAP-BAND® patients eat slowly. Food should be chewed thoroughly and all meals savored in order to prevent eating quickly and problems with proper digestion. Patients should ideally avoid drinking water with their meals to conserve stomach space. Hydration should occur between meals.
Potential Risks of LAP-BAND® Surgery
Not to be confused with side effects, there are some risks and complications that may be related to LAP-BAND® surgery. These include the following:
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Lack of Adequate Weight Loss – Sometimes patients will lose some weight after LAP-BAND® surgery, but not enough. In these cases, adjusting the band or trying a different bariatric option is ideal.
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Slippage of the Gastric Band – The gastric band can slip out of place every now and then, altering the size of the patient's stomach. Corrective procedures can be performed to make the necessary adjustments.
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Stomach Blockage – If the gastric band is improperly positioned or food is eaten too fast, there is the possibility of a stomach blockage. This can be a very serious health problem that necessitates immediate medical attention.
Understanding the Pros and Cons of Surgery
We think it's important that patients understand the good and bad aspects of bariatric surgery, which is why we take ample time to cover the pros and cons of every procedure. We can go over all of these issues with you in more detail during the consultation for your LAP-BAND®.
Speak with the Weight Loss Experts at Tijuana Bariatrics
For more information about the side effects of various weight loss surgery procedures and how we can help you lose weight safely and quickly, be sure to contact our bariatric surgery center today. The team at Tijuana Bariatrics is here to help you look and feel your very best.