FAQ

Adjustable Gastric Banding limits 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.

With gastric bypass, it is fairly common to feel nauseous for the first few days or weeks.  The surgery puts stress on the stomach, so it feeling upset is just part of the recovery process.  Drinking water or some hot teas can help settle your stomach, but you should avoid ginger ale or sprite until your physician says that it is okay for you to have these types of drinks.  Dehydration can cause nausea, so drinking plenty of water is necessary even though it may difficult.  After the first few weeks, your stomach should settle down a bit, just remember to follow your surgeon’s instructions.

Band 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.

The recovery time for gastric bypass differs for each individual.  Commonly, the patient can expect to spend 2-4 days in the hospital, where they will be up walking the day after surgery.  Most individuals are back at work within 2-3 weeks.

Weight loss results with the Adjustable Gastric Band 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. Weight loss 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 1 to 2 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.

The estimated weight loss for Gastric Bypass is approximately 2-3 pounds per week, continuing to about 18-24 months post-surgery.  This weight loss is also dependent on adopting the necessary eating habits to keep you on track.  That, along with an exercise program, will help you reach your weight loss goals and maintain a healthy weight long term.

At year 3, the weight loss results are comparable.

Whether you have the Adjustable Gastric Band or gastric bypass, regular follow up visits are an important part of your aftercare. 

After a full recovery, neither surgery affects or hampers physical activity including aerobics, stretching and strenuous exercise.

The gastric band and gastric bypass both work by reducing the capacity of your stomach and increasing the time it takes food to get through the digestive system. You will eat less and feel fuller sooner.

With the gastric bypass, most patients do not experience the feeling of hunger for the first 3-6 months following surgery.  Frequent sips of water throughout the day will help you stay hydrated and feel full. 

Once the pouch stretches a bit, 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 this is a tool to help you change your eating habits.

One of the major advantages of Adjustable Gastric Banding is that it can be adjusted. If your illness requires you to eat more, the band can be loosened by removing saline. 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.

With gastric bypass, some patients do experience illness, although it is not an expected outcome. Call your physician if you experience vomiting or diarrhea frequently.

Becoming pregnant can be easier as you lose weight and 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.

Due to the additional demands of pregnancy, it is not recommended that you become pregnant until 12-18 months after having bariatric surgery. 

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.

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 always ask the doctor who prescribes the drugs about this.

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.

Alcohol has a high number of calories and breaks down vitamins.  For those patients that have had adjustable gastric banding, consuming alcohol can deter your weight loss as it converts to sugar rapidly in the system, and has almost no nutritional value.  With some gastric bypass patients, that can cause what is called “dumping syndrome” which is when your stomach contents empty too quickly into the small intestine causing abdominal cramps and nausea.  Also, removing alcohol from your diet after surgery can help the healing process and help prevent stomach irritation and ulcers.

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 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 surgery may be greatly reduced.

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.

Adjustments are most often done in the office. Local anesthesia may or may not be needed. A fine needle is passed 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. Occasionally, they may need to be done in the X-ray department so the access port can be clearly seen. When X-rays are used, your reproductive organs should be shielded.

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.

Although the band is not meant to be removed, it can be. In some cases this can be done 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.

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 System feels tighter during menstruation.