The amount of weight you lose and the rate at which you lose it is dependent on a number of factors in addition to the placement of the Lap-Band® itself. These include factors such as your initial starting weight, post-operative dietary compliance, and  the amount of exercise activity in with you routinely participate.  On average, however, patients lose approximately  50% or more of their excess weight within the first year of surgery.  Most patients find they lose between 6-10 pounds a month, depending on their individual diet and exercise regimens.  In general, it is not safe to lose weight too quickly. A weight loss of 1 ½  to 2 pounds a week is a safe rate of loss and  is the average weight loss seen in most Lap-Band® patients.

The Lap-Band® works best with solid foods to decrease hunger. Solid foods tend to stay in the stomach pouch longer, giving you a greater sense of fullness and satisfaction. Following surgery, you will begin by eating/drinking only liquid foods. Therefore during this time you may feel hungry. However, most patients find that they feel less hungry and more satisfied if they eat/drink the foods the recommended number of times by the dietitian throughout the day. Once you begin to eat solid foods you should feel very satisfied with significantly less food than you were consuming before surgery. Then, with additional adjustments or fills of your band, the size of the outlet between your pouch and lower stomach will become smaller. This allows a further decrease in the amount of food you eat, slowing the rate of emptying of the pouch, and thereby reducing hunger in addition to giving you a prolonged period of satisfaction.

You will be seen as often as necessary, of course, but we generally schedule you for your first post-operative follow-up appointment within 10-14 days after surgery. Then you will be seen at 4-6 week intervals for the first 6 months, then perhaps at 6-8 week intervals toward the remainder of the first year. These visits are designed to monitor your diet, exercise compliance, and need for band adjustments to optimize your weight loss. After the fisrt year, you will be seen in 6 months and then yearly. In addition, based on your rate of weight loss and your personal weight loss goals, your band may require that you come in for additional band adjustments. Additionally, we will have an optional monthly support groups at two separate locations and times for patient convenience. These groups are designed for Lap-Band® patients dealing with emotional and psychological issues relating to body image, stress coping strategies, addictive behaviors, etc. They also provide  an opportunity for patients to encourage one another and offer "tips" for success learned through their own experience.

No, you should be able to take any medication necessary. They may need to be crushed before ingestion, or perhaps be changed to a different form of the medication if your current one cannot be crushed. Unlike other bariatric surgeries, the Lap-Band® will not affect the absorption of medication in your stomach. Therefore, the effectiveness of medication will not be diminished and/or affected. Anti-inflammatory agents, such as aspirin or NSAIDS, should be used with caution as the manfacturer of the Lap-Band® states these types of medications may contribute to an increased risk of band erosion. These types of medications must be discussed with Dr. Collier.

The number of adjustments (fills) you may need cannot be determined in advance of your surgery. Some patients may need one adjustment, while most  others may need 3-6 in the first year depending upon their initial weight, individual response to the band, the degree of weight loss desired, and the size of the band used at surgery ( the APS Band having a 10 ml maximum fill volume and the APL Band 14ml). Generally, the initial adjustment is not performed until  4-6 weeks after your surgery.

If you paid for your Lap-Band® with cash, Journey Lite of Houston will provide LIFETIME FREE ADJUSTMENTS at Journey Lite's Outpatient Facility as long as you are a patient of Journey Lite. Insurance coverage for fills can be determined by calling the customer service number on your insurance card.  Some insurance plans cover the fills, however, others do not.

During the first year after surgery: A fast rate of weight loss during pregnancy is thought to be potentially harmful to the developing baby. Therefore, we would like for you to use some form of contraception to avoid pregnancy during the first year following surgery. If you become pregnant, however, during this first year, we will leave your Lap-Band® in place without saline (withdrawing all of the fluid) in order to ensure adequate nutrition for the baby's growth. After the pregnancy, the band can be made tighter again and you can go back to losing weight. After the first year of weight loss: Your menstrual cycle may become more regular. Many women then find it easier to conceive following substantial weight loss.