FAQ

The LAP-BAND® Adjustable Gastric Banding System is the first U.S. FDA-approved adjustable gastric band for use in weight reduction. To date, this simple reversible surgically implanted device has been used in more than 300,000 procedures worldwide.

The LAP-BAND® System was approved by the FDA in June 2001 for severely obese adults with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or more or for people with a BMI of at least 30 plus at least one severe obesity-related health condition such as Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and asthma.

For more information about LAP-BAND system, as well as weight loss surgery in Los Angeles, please call LAP-BAND VIP at 855-690-0560 and have all of your questions, comments, or concerns addressed.

The LAP-BAND® System’s inflatable band is usually placed around the top portion of the stomach laparoscopically, using “keyhole” surgery, which offers the advantages of reduced pain, length of hospital stay and recovery period.

The LAP-BAND® System procedure is considered safer and less invasive than gastric bypass, as there is no stomach cutting, stapling or intestinal re-routing.

To learn more about the LAP-BAND procedure, as well as weight loss surgery options available in California, please call LAP-BAND VIP at 855-690-0560.

The LAP-BAND System is considered safer and less invasive than gastric bypass, as there is no stomach cutting, stapling or intestinal re-routing.

It is adjustable and reversible and has a lower severe complication rate preoperatively and a lower mean short-term mortality rate compared with gastric bypass.
In fact, the LAP-BAND® System has a mortality rate of 0.05 percent, approximately 1/10 the mortality rate of gastric bypass.

To learn more about the pros and cons of LAP-BAND surgery, please call our offices in Southern California at 855-690-0560 to have all of your questions answered.

More and more insurers are covering LAP-BAND surgery. It is important to check with the staff at the LAP-BAND VIP prior to considering surgery to see about your insurance plan’s coverage. If insurance does not cover the procedure, you can still go ahead with the surgery by paying through other financial means.

For more information about LAP-BAND insurance coverage and weight loss surgery cost, please call LAP-BAND VIP at 855-690-0560.

LAP-BAND Surgery has 1/10th of the risks and complications that are associated with gastric bypass and unlike Gastric Bypass Surgery, the LAP-BAND requires no cutting or stapling of the stomach. By banding the upper portion of the stomach to create a smaller stoma, weight loss is achieved in a more natural way than with gastric bypass.

The LAP-BAND is also removable and adjustable, meaning that the procedure can be fine-tuned for optimal weight loss or completely reversed at any time if needed, which will allow the stomach to return to its natural shape.

To learn more about the difference between gastric bypass and LAP-BAND, as well as other weight loss surgery options, please call LAP-BAND VIP at 855-690-0560 to have all of your questions, comments, or concerns addressed accordingly.

The amount of weight that can be lost with the LAP-BAND will vary from one patient to another, but many patients report losing 1-3 pounds a week during the first year after their LAP-BAND surgery. For the best weight loss results, it is important to adjust or fill the LAP-BAND often to find the perfect balance for losing weight without feeling hungry.

Please call LAP-BAND VIP at 855-690-0560 to learn more about expectations for weight loss with the LAP-BAND.

LAP-BAND systems are able to be removed and reports from surgeons indicate that the stomach will go back to its original shape once the LAP-BAND has been removed. Removing a LAP-BAND will most likely result in you gaining your weight back, so make sure you consider your reason for having a LAP-BAND removed carefully and don’t hesitate to give us a call to discuss what other weight loss options may be available to you.

For more information about removing the LAP-BAND, please call LAP-BAND VIP at 855-690-0560 and we will be happy to address any questions you may have.

On average, you will not be required to stay in a hospital for more than 24 hours after the insertion of your LAP-BAND and most often, you will be able to go home on the same day. After the procedure, it may take about 1 week before you should return to work and around 4-6 weeks before you can take up exercise again. If there are any complications or special circumstances, you surgeon will be able to guide you back to normal activities with proper guidance.

To learn more about LAP-BAND recovery time, please call LAP-BAND VIP at 855-690-0560 and a staff member will be happy to answer any additional questions you may have.

No pre-approval for the LAP-BAND is needed to schedule an appointment or consultation, but you may want to send us your insurance information by filling out our LAP-BAND Qualification Form so that we can verify your coverage for the LAP-BAND procedure. In addition, we offer free LAP-BAND seminars throughout Southern California on a weekly basis.

For more information about paying for the LAP-BAND with insurance, please call LAP-BAND VIP at 855-690-0560 to have your insurance policy verified by one of our staff members.

The LAP-BAND System is approved for patients (18 years and above) with a BMI of 40 or more or for people with a BMI of at least 30 plus at least one severe obesity-related health condition such as Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and asthma.

To find out more about LAP-BAND qualifications and what makes a patient a good candidate, please call LAP-BAND VIP at 855-690-0560 and we will be happy to answer any additional questions you may have.

Using the LAP-BAND for weight loss may increase your chance of becoming pregnant because as you lose weight, your menstrual cycle will become more regular. The LAP-BAND is also adjustable, meaning that it can be loosened if more nutrition is needed during pregnancy and then re-tightened after the pregnancy to continue losing weight. As such, there is no need to remove the LAP-BAND after pregnancy.

To learn more about LAP-BAND and pregnancy, please call LAP-BAND VIP at 855-690-0560 and a representative will be more than happy to address any additional questions you may have.

Results can vary because of a number of factors. Even though the LAP-BAND® System can limit the amount of food consumed, lifestyle changes are critical to weight loss success.

Additionally, the LAP-BAND® System can be adjusted, tightened or loosened, to enable an individual to achieve a level of satiety while maintaining a healthy diet.

Interested in learning more about weight loss with the LAP-BAND? Then call our LAP-BAND VIP offices at 855-690-0560, and one of our helpful staff will answer any questions, comments, or concerns you have.

As with all surgeries, there are some risks that may arise from having the LAP-BAND procedure. This could include infections, nausea, vomiting, slipping of the band, and erosion of the band and access port problems. While LAP-BAND complications may be rare, choosing the right surgeon is extremely important in both reducing the risks associated with LAP-BAND and shortening your recovery time.

If you are interested in learning more about LAP-BAND risks and complications, please call LAP-BAND VIP at 855-690-0560.

The LAP-BAND is designed to help you feel full while eating less. If you follow the LAP-BAND nutrition guidelines when choosing your meals, and if you chew your food well, then you shouldn’t feel hungry or deprived between meals. If you do feel hungry, then a simple LAP-BAND adjustment should help satiate the hunger while still keeping you on the right path to realizing your weight loss goals.

To find out more about being hungry with the LAP-BAND, please call LAP-BAND VIP at 855-690-0560 and we will answer any additional questions you may have.

Weight should be lost gradually. A weight loss of two to three pounds a week in the first year after the operation is possible, but one pound a week is more likely. Individual results may vary.

For more information about LAP-BAND surgery and weight loss, please call LAP-BAND VIP offices at 855-690-0560, and we will address any questions, comments, or concerns you have.

LAP-BAND adjustments are tailored to meet your individual needs and will be used to find a balance where you don’t feel hungry between meals, yet still, lose an optimum amount of weight each month. As such, there aren’t a specific number of adjustments to be recommended in advance and your surgeon will work closely with you after you LAP-BAND procedure to adjust your LAP-BAND fill to meet your weight loss goals.

For more information about LAP-BAND adjustments, please call LAP-BAND VIP at 855-690-0560 and one of our representatives can answer any questions or concerns you may have.

Plastic surgery may be cosmetically used to remove excessive skin folds after you lose a significant amount of weight, but you should wait for at least 1-2 years after your LAP-BAND surgery to give your skin time to mold around your new body tissue.

For more information about plastic surgery following LAP-BAND surgery, please call LAP-BAND VIP offices at 855-690-0560 and we will be happy to answer any additional questions you may have.

With a gastric LAP-BAND, alcohol absorption remains just as it was before the surgery, so you shouldn’t be more sensitive to alcohol per se. The LAP-BAND differs from gastric bypass surgery as there isn’t any stapling or cutting of the stomach, nor any rerouting of the intestines. This allows for moderate consumption of alcohol.

With the LAP-BAND, drinking alcohol occasionally shouldn’t cause any real setbacks in weight loss. You should be aware, however, that alcohol breaks down vitamins and carries a significant amount of empty calories. If the alcoholic beverage is carbonated, like Beer and Champagne, the carbonation may cause your Stoma to stretch and defeat the LAP-BAND by allowing more food (and calories) to be taken with each meal.

To learn more about alcohol consumption with the LAP-BAND, please call LAP-BAND VIP at 855-690-0560 and our staff will be happy to provide additional information.

While the LAP-BAND System is a reversible weight-loss surgery option and it can be removed at any time, less than half of 1% of our patients have had the LAP-BAND removed.

Prior to the procedure, our practice closely evaluates patients to ensure they are appropriate candidates for the LAP-BAND System. This includes an evaluation of the causes – both physical and emotional – that contribute to the patient’s excessive weight gain. And following the procedure, patients work closely with our surgeons and weight management team to develop a healthy eating plan, learn how to incorporate physical activity into their daily routines, have routine check-ups and ongoing band adjustments if necessary, and regularly attend support group meetings.

Interested in learning more about LAP-BAND removal? Please call LAP-BAND VIP at 855-690-0560 and one of our staff members will be more than happy to address any additional questions you may have.

The LAP-BAND’s access port is placed securely beneath your skin where it is safe from accidental damage and won’t hinder your movement in any way. In fact, the only thing you are likely to experience will be a mild sensation from the port when you visit your surgeon for a LAP-BAND adjustment or fill. If you do feel any form of discomfort or pain from the access port, make sure to tell your surgeon as soon as possible.

For more information regarding LAP-BAND safety precautions, please call LAP-BAND VIP at 855-690-0560.

Your doctor places the LAP-BAND access port beneath your skin and fat, and over your abdominal muscle and fascia. The port is not typically visible under the skin or clothing but can be found by palpation of the skin over it. Therefore, it is unlikely that other people will see or recognize that you have an adjustment port. LAP-BAND fills and adjustments are made to the access port with a small needle. This process helps to keep the port site discreet.

If you are interested in learning more about the LAP-BAND device, as well as weight loss surgery options in Los Angeles, please call LAP-BAND VIP offices at 855-690-0560.

Although it may seem tempting and relatively easy, you should never open your LAP-BAND so that you can gorge at a special meal, occasion or event. It is possible, however, to have the fluid in the LAP-BAND system emptied if there is an underlying medical condition that calls for the band to be loosened. A good example would be during pregnancy where a mother might need additional nutrition for her developing baby.

If you are interested in learning more about LAP-BAND adjustments, please call LAP-BAND VIP offices at 855-690-0560.

The fluid that is used for filling or adjusting the LAP-BAND system is a sterile saline. Sterile saline is simply salt and sterilized water and it is safe if ingested. This fluid is quite commonly used for contact lenses as well as a filling, hydrating or cleansing solution by many medical applications.

To learn more about LAP-BAND adjustments, as well as weight loss surgery options in Los Angeles, please call LAP-BAND VIP at 855-690-0560.

Most patients will walk in for LAP-BAND weight loss surgery and go home on the same day. Patients can also return to work after resting for about a week, and exercise can resume within 4-6 weeks after the surgery. If you develop complications, then it may take some additional time before you are able to fully recover.

If you are interested in learning more about LAP-BAND recovery, please call LAP-BAND VIP at 855-690-05600 and one of our staff will be happy to answer any additional questions you may have.

You should visit your LAP-BAND surgeon every 4-6 weeks for the first year following your LAP-BAND surgery. During these appointments, your surgeon will make LAP-BAND adjustments or fills to keep you in a “green zone”, where your food intake is reduced to help you lose the most weight possible without making you feel hungry between meals. During the appointment, your LAP-BAND surgeon will also check that all of your nutritional needs are being met, and offer any additional support you may need in realizing your weight loss goals.

If you are interested in learning more about post-op programs with the LAP-BAND, please call our LAP-BAND VIP offices at 855-690-0560 and we will address any questions or comments you have.

Due to a decreased intake of food including less fiber, the volume of your stools may reduce and this is quite normal. However, this reduction in bowel movement should not cause any severe problems so you should consult your doctor if any difficulties arise. If you do experience a problem with constipation, your doctor will probably suggest that you take a mild laxative in addition to drinking plenty of water. Needs are likely to differ from one person to another, but it is generally recommended that you drink 6-8 glasses of water every day.

Initial constipation right after your surgery is likely related to narcotic pain medication and can easily be relieved by taking milk of magnesia.

If you are interested in learning more about potential LAP-BAND side effects, such as constipation, please call LAP-BAND VIP at 855-690-0560 and one of our helpful staff will be happy to answer any additional questions you may have.

Eating out is safe as long as you can be disciplined enough to order for a small portion of food. This includes appetizers. Also, it is important that you eat slowly and not feel rushed to finish eating at the same time as your dining companions. You may want to let them know in advance that you won’t be eating very much or that you eat slowly. It may also make you feel less pressured to eat a small amount in the restaurant and take the rest home to eat later. Another common practice is to share a plate of food with someone else at the table. Not only will you enjoy the meal without feeling rushed, you will also be saving money!

Remember, try to limit empty calories, chew your food thoroughly, avoid carbonated drinks and enjoy your company. Dining out can become much more enjoyable when you can engage conversation without feeling the need to gorge.

To learn more about eating out with the LAP-BAND, please call LAP-BAND VIP at 855-690-0560 and our staff will be happy to answer any questions, comments, or concerns you have.

After surgery, you will have to learn new dietary habits. While this new eating pattern is being established, expect some episodes of vomiting. For up to three days after surgery in the hospital, only small amounts of clear liquids will be allowed. Solid foods will not be introduced until clear liquids and soft foods can be consumed. The progression to solids is slow and varies among patients. Initially, you begin with only eight teaspoons of food. Eating must be done slowly and stopped when you feel full. Only small portions three times a day are allowed. Eating too much at one sitting can cause vomiting.

If you are interested in learning more about LAP-BAND side effects, please call LAP-BAND VIP offices at 855-690-0560 to have all of your questions, comments, and concerns addressed.

As with other major surgeries, death is considered a potential risk. However, the LAP-BAND® System has a lower mean short-term mortality rate compared with gastric bypass (0.05 percent, approximately 1/10 the mortality rate of gastric bypass).

To find out more about the potential LAP-BAND risks and complications, please call LAP-BAND VIP at 855-690-0560.

As with any surgery, there are possible risks and complications with the LAP-BAND® System, including but not limited to infection, nausea, vomiting, band slippage and obstruction, and in rare cases, gastric perforation and reoperation.

For more information about LAP-BAND side effects, please call LAP-BAND VIP at 855-690-0560, and we will be happy to answer any additional questions you may have.

It is not harmful for you to drink an occasional glass of wine or other alcoholic beverage with the LAP-BAND, but drinking alcohol on a regular basis will likely hinder your loss of weight. Alcohol is very high calories and breaks down vitamins that your body needs to remain healthy, so talk with your dietitian or surgeon for what amount of alcohol you can reasonably enjoy.

Carbonated Alcoholic beverages like champagne and beer should either be avoided or have their carbonation reduced by pouring the beverage between glasses to release as much gas as possible before drinking. Carbonation can stretch the stomach above the LAP-BAND, allowing more calories to enter with each meal and slowing your ability to lose weight.

For more information about drinking with the LAP-BAND, please call LAP-BAND VIP offices at 855-690-0560.

Prescribed medication shouldn’t be a problem with the LAP-BAND, although you may be required to take the Medicine in capsules. Breaking large tablets in half or dissolving them in water will help ensure that the medication doesn’t get stuck in your stomach and make you feel ill.

Your doctor may also ask you to stay away from aspirin as well as other non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs that are meant to relieve pain as these drugs are likely to irritate the stomach and increase the risk of bleeding during your operation.

Interested in learning more about LAP-BAND and medication? Call LAP-BAND VIP at 855-690-0560, and we will be happy to address any additional questions you may have.

The Lap-BAND will help you lose weight by making you feel full while eating less food than you have in the past. During your regular office visits, a specialist will help determine if you are getting the proper amount of nutrition from the food you are eating. This will include vitamins such as B12, folic acid, and iron. While your LAP-BAND can be adjusted to help ensure you are getting the right nutrition, vitamin supplements may still be recommended as there is no harm in taking them.

To learn more about the LAP-BAND and vitamin supplements, please call LAP-BAND VIP at 855-690-0560, and a staff member will be available to answer any questions you may have.

The LAP-BAND is not a quick fix, but a powerful weight loss tool that is meant to be combined with diet and exercise to achieve a healthier weight and lifestyle. Our website, nutritionist, and surgeons will be able to help you establish an enjoyable diet that will help reduce calories and balance your nutritional needs. Generally, regular exercising will help to improve your overall health.

For more information about LAP-BAND exercise and diet programs, as well as the services we offer at LAP-BAND VIP, please call our offices at 855-690-0560.

To date, the LAP-BAND® System has been successfully used in more than 300,000 procedures worldwide. This simple, reversible medical device has been available in Europe since 1993 and was approved by the FDA in June 2001. It is considered safer and less invasive than gastric bypass, as there is no stomach cutting, stapling or intestinal re-routing.

The LAP-BAND® System’s inflatable band is usually placed around the top portion of the stomach laparoscopically, using “keyhole” surgery, which offers the advantages of reduced pain, length of hospital stay and recovery period.

Additionally, the LAP-BAND® System has a lower severe complication rate preoperatively (less than 1%), lower mean short-term mortality rate (0.05 percent, approximately 1/10 the mortality rate of gastric bypass) and carries fewer risks of vitamin and mineral deficiencies than gastric bypass.

To find out more about potential LAP-BAND risks, as well as complications during weight loss surgery, please call LAP-BAND VIP at 855-690-0560.

If you have a LAP-BAND, beer is OK to drink in moderation, but you need to be aware that beer is filled with empty calories that will make losing weight more difficult and the carbonation in beer can expand your new Stoma, allowing you to eat more food and defeating the purpose of having a LAP-BAND. Drinking beer with the LAP-BAND may also cause heartburn or acid reflux.

To enjoy an occasional beer, you can reduce the carbonation by pouring a beer back and forth a few times between two glasses.

If you are interested in learning more about drinking carbonated beverages, such as beer, with the LAP-BAND, please call our offices at 855-690-0560.

The LAP-BAND system is only meant to limit the amount of food that you eat. If you experience nausea or feel sick when eating, this could be a result of failing to chew your food properly or failing to follow your diet. More importantly, this could be an indication that there is a problem with the placement of your LAP-BAND system. If nausea or discomfort with your LAP-BAND persists, you should get in touch with your surgeon as soon as possible. You should also avoid vomiting as much as possible because this will make the pouch of your small stomach to stretch. Vomiting could also cause part of your small stomach to slip through the LAP-BAND, reducing how successful your weight loss will be. If the small stomach slips, another operation may be required.

If you are interested in learning more about proper LAP-BAND diet and eating habits, please call LAP-BAND VIP at 855-690-0560 and we will address any comments, concerns, or questions you have. We look forward to hearing from you!

While the LAP-BAND system is not meant to be removed, it can be removed laparoscopically if there is a need. In fact, reports from surgeons indicate that the stomach returns to its original shape after the removal of a LAP-BAND system. Keep in mind that removing the LAP-BAND can result in the patient regaining their weight once again.

For more information about LAP-BAND removal, please call LAP-BAND VIP at 855-690-0560, and one of our staff will be more than happy to answer any more questions, comments, or concerns you may have.

Usually between 4 to 6 weeks. This includes strenuous activities including aerobics and stretching.

If you are interested in learning more about LAP-BAND and exercise, call our LAP-BAND VIP offices at 855-690-0560 and one of our helpful medical staff will be happy to address any questions or concerns you may have.