If you are obese and have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of around 40 or higher, you may be an ideal candidate for the LapBand surgery. If it is a procedure you are interested in undergoing, please continue reading on for a few helpful tips.

First, schedule a consultation appointment. You may have already decided that the LapBand system is right for you, but your doctor may have other thoughts. Do not get your hopes up, schedule a consultation appointment first.

Speaking of eligibility, what are your chances of being an ideal candidate for surgery? On average, LapBand surgeons recommend that patients be between the ages of 18 and 60 and about 100 pounds overweight. Not only that, a clear understanding of the surgery and what is expected from each patient is required.

Before your LapBand surgery, you will have multiple meetings with your doctor. You can consider these prolonged consultations. LapBand surgery is more than just a weight loss procedure; it is a lifestyle change. For that reason, there is a lot of preparing before the surgery. This will be done with the guidance of a LapBand surgeon.

In the weeks leading up to your surgery, your doctor will have you restrict your diet. On average, this is two to three weeks beforehand. In addition to restricting your diet to healthier foods, protein supplements will be added. Myocel is the brand most doctors recommend. These dietary chances are important, as it helps to prepare the body for surgery.

The above mentioned preparation involves a small amount of weight and fat loss. Many suffering from obesity have large livers. This is not safe for surgery. When fat is reduced around the liver, spleen, and stomach, surgery is easier and safer.

As previously stated, patients need to adjust their diet to prepare for the procedure. Foods that are high in sugar, fat, and claries need to be eliminated from the diet. Once again, this prepares the body for surgery by reducing fat content and giving you a healthier body that can heal easier.

Your doctor should provide you with a list of approved foods. Despite the possibility of a variance, there is a common list of approved foods. These foods include fruits, vegetables, lean meats, eggs, yogurt, and oatmeal.

For many obese individuals, diet restrictions are hard. Not only will doctors use this pre-surgery diet as surgery preparation, but as a test. If you are unable to avoid junk food, you are not the best candidate for LapBand surgery. To prevent complications during and after surgery, diet restrictions are necessary.

Many LapBand surgeons recommend meeting with a dietician. Even if a healthcare professional does not make the request, an appointment is beneficial to patients.

As for the procedures themselves, they vary depending on the hospital in question. You may be asked to spend the previous night in the hospital or you could arrive the morning of your surgery. Regardless, you will be asked to refrain from eating and drinking before midnight.

When preparing for any type of surgery, time off from work is a must. If your LapBand surgery is successful and complication free, hospitalization should be less than 24 hours. Even still, you may need to wait 7 days before returning to work. If your job duties include heavy lifting, consult with your surgeon first.

In addition to time off from work, you need to arrange transportation to and from surgery. Use the assistance of a friend or family member. You will be able to move before and after the surgery, but pain and discomfort is common. Reduce your stress and movement by arranging a ride to and from surgery.

The above mentioned steps are just a few of the many ways you can and should prepare for the LapBand surgery. Most importantly, schedule a consultation appointment. If you are deemed an ideal candidate for the LapBand system, your doctor will advise you on the next steps.

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LapBand Surgery: How to Reduce the Risk of Complications

Have you received the approval to undergo LapBand surgery? If so, you are well on your way to having a lighter and healthier body. At first, you will be excited about your upcoming weight loss surgery. At some point in time, you may experience nervousness. The LapBand is considered a safe procedure, but surgery always involves risks. These risks, no matter how small, may cause you some concern.

So, what should you do? Take steps to minimize your risk of LapBand complications. As for how you can do so:

Most importantly, listen to your primary care physician and LapBand surgeon. Most patients mistakenly believe their surgery begins at their surgery date and time. Yes, technically it does, but a lot of preparation is needed for the LapBand system. Diet restrictions are necessary to prepare the body for surgery in the two to three weeks prior. For that reason, follow all professional advice given.

As previously stated, diet restriction is necessary in the weeks leading up to surgery. Physicians will provide patients with a list of pre-approved foods. Despite the possibility of small variances, you should be able to eat lean meats, fruits, vegetables, and yogurt. Protein supplements will be added. These diet restrictions are necessary to reduce complications. They allow for the reduction in fat around the stomach, making surgery easier and safer.

Also at the advice of a LapBand surgeon, patients are asked not to eat or drink after the midnight before their surgery. This is important advice to follow. Not only may you face complications, your doctor may refuse to perform the surgery!

Post surgery, patients have multiple follow-up appointments with their surgeons. At these follow-up appointments or at anytime following surgery, voice concerns. This includes pain and discomfort. Yes, pain and discomfort is a small side effect of surgery, but still mention it. You never know if complications have started or may later arise.

In the 24 hours following the LapBand procedure, patients start moving. By discharge time, patients should be able to walk, get up and down. With that said, it may be uncomfortable and slightly painful to move too much. For that reason, prepare your home for your arrival in advance. It reduces post-surgery LapBand complications by ensuring you have time to fully recover. Stock up on post-surgery liquids, clean your house, and so forth.

Start with a clear liquid diet. This is advised immediately following surgery. A clear liquid diet may include chicken broth, sugar free gelatin, and diluted apple juice. Your surgeon will provide you with a list of approved foods. To reduce complications, slip your drinks slowly. After approval, the next stages include full liquids, pureed foods, soft foods, and full solids. This process can take between one and two months. Always eat slowly, check food thoroughly, and stop eating when full.

Do not return to work without doctor approval. If you work in an office environment and perform easy tasks, such as typing, you are likely to return to work in one week. If heavy lifting is required, such as in the retail or construction industry, extended recovery is recommended.

Finally, attend all follow-up appointments. Unfortunately, many individuals believe they are in the clear if they dont experience LapBand complications right away, but this is not true. Band slippage, stomach erosion, acid reflux, and regurgitation can occur days, weeks, months, or even years after surgery. These all signal complications, which when known can easily be treated with a band adjustment.

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