Occasionally, a patient who has undergone a gastric banding (lap band) surgery – particularly if it was done years ago – develops symptoms that indicate the lap band is not performing as it should. When that happens, a thorough evaluation of the band can help determine the best options to help get back on track.
How Can I Get Back on Track?
Treatment options can include emotional support and counseling, diet modifications, possible modification of the lap band, or converting to a metabolic-based weight-loss procedure.
Am I a Candidate for a Lap Band Evaluation?
You may be a candidate for a lap band evaluation at NewStart at Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center if:
- You feel you have failed at your goal of losing weight and keeping it off;
- You want to understand why your weight loss procedure hasn’t worked as you thought it would; or,
- You would like to talk over your options with a supportive and understanding team of professionals
Talk to a Nurse for Free and Find out If You Are a Candidate
Appointments are available. Schedule a no-obligation phone consultation and get your questions answered. Choose a convenient time to get started. You can also call (713) 242-4600.
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What Symptoms May Indicate That My Lap Band Requires Evaluation?
If you suffer from heartburn, nausea, vomiting, difficulty swallowing, abdominal pain, not losing weight, or regaining weight that you had lost, an evaluation can help you determine the cause of the problem.
What Do These Symptoms Indicate?
Any of these symptoms mean that your band needs to be assessed. The band may simply need to be loosened (unfilled) or tightened (filled); or it may have slipped due to repeated vomiting or re-positioned itself.
The symptoms could also be a sign of more serious concerns including a dilated esophagus/enlarged pouch or the band could be eroding into the stomach.
It’s also possible that since your surgery, changes in habits or lifestyle may have made it more difficult for your lap band to work as it was intended. The adjustment you need may be as simple as minor changes in your diet or refocusing on your daily exercise routine.
Why Does a Gastric Band Stop Working or Need Adjustment?
The Lap Band® and some older stapling weight loss procedures done in the past – some as many as 20 to 30 years ago – were not as effective as those done today. Sometimes, older procedures fail to achieve adequate weight loss. In addition, some surgeries performed outside the U.S. may not have been done according to standards among this country’s medical community.
What to Expect from a Lap Band Evaluation
What Does an Evaluation Include?
NewStart at Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center offers a comprehensive gastric band evaluation, including:
- Lifestyle questionnaire that profiles your day-to-day activities and pinpoints emotional stimuli – such as happiness, sadness and stress – that prompt unnecessary eating
- Meeting with a dietician specializing in bariatrics and weight loss who will evaluate your eating patterns, help identify and correct problem areas, and create a personalized diet plan for you.
- Upper gastrointestinal (UGI) swallow test, which determines the lap band’s position and how food passes through it. The results of the UGI will be reviewed by a radiologist and bariatric specialist.
What Happens After the Evaluation?
Your results are evaluated by a specialized, multi-disciplinary team including a surgeon, a dietician and a nurse. When your evaluation is complete, your team will discuss the results with you and assist you in making an informed decision on the next steps that will get you back to losing weight.
They will also outline available medical options, ranging from lifestyle adjustments to procedures that will adjust or remove your lap band, or move you to a metabolic weight loss procedure that creates physiologic changes in your body that affect your energy balance and fat metabolism.
NewStart at Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center also sponsors complimentary monthly and online support groups for all weight-loss surgery patients, featuring visits and tips from guest chefs, psychologists and exercise therapists – all designed to help you achieve your goal of losing weight safely and comfortably. You’ll have a chance to meet and share with others who understand exactly what you are going through
Ready to Get Started?
It's about more than a number on a scale. It's about getting back to your favorite activities. It's about getting a boost in both your energy and confidence. It's something to do for you and your health.
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