Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the procedure cost?
This varies depending on your insurance. Once the paperwork is completed, our staff will start the approval process. Our group participates with some insurers and we accept out-of-network benefits with insurance companies with whom we do not participate. We also offer incredible savings for patients who are paying cash for their Lap-Band. The entire procedure, including one year of postoperative care, is $12,000. The procedure is performed in our Surgical Center. There are some limitations on which patients qualify for the procedure at the Surgical Center. It is important to discuss this with the surgeon prior to your surgery. We make every effort to minimize the economic hardship associated with the surgery.
What are the advantages of laparoscopic surgery?
Laparoscopic surgery eliminates the trauma from a large abdominal incision. Instead, the surgeon makes five small incisions to accommodate miniaturized cameras and other surgical instruments. Additional benefits include:
· Less blood loss
· Less risk of infection
· Shorter hospital stay
· No hernias
· Faster recovery time
· Greater early weight loss
How quickly can the procedure be scheduled?
Typically, your surgery date will be four to eight weeks from the time of your first consultation. However, some insurance companies require six months of medically managed weight loss prior to granting approval. Check with your insurance provider about these requirements.
What happens during the consultation?
At the consultation, the surgeon will review your medical history, perform a physical examination and answer all of your questions. If any additional medical testing is needed, it will be recommended. The surgeon will also determine which procedure will be best for your situation.
How long does the operation take?
Gastric bypass takes about two hours. Lap-Band takes about an hour.
How long will I be in the hospital?
Lap-Band patients do not need to stay in the hospital overnight. Gastric bypass patients leave the hospital two to three days after surgery. When you go home, you will be able to walk and move around reasonably comfortably.
How much weight can I expect to lose?
Eighty-five percent of gastric bypass patients lose more than 60 percent of excess body weight after one year. With proper food management, exercise and nutritional management, the weight loss is long lasting.
Lap-Band weight loss is more gradual, with a reduction of between 50 and 60 percent of excess weight within two years. Some patients may require additional cosmetic surgery to compensate for large amounts of lost weight.
What are the immediate health benefits of weight loss?
We often see improved or resolved type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, reflux disorder, shortness of breath, sleep apnea and back pain.
How does weight loss surgery affect diabetes?
While weight control is the most important aspect of type 2 diabetes management, current diets and drugs result in only a small – and usually temporary – weight loss, with little effect on diabetes. The good news is that weight loss surgery results in an 85 percent remission rate of diabetes in morbidly obese patients (those with a BMI of 40 or higher).
There is also evidence that suggests weight loss surgery cures diabetes in the majority of patients with mild to moderate obesity (those with a BMI between 30 and 39).
Gastric bypass has a more dramatic and powerful effect on type 2 diabetes than does the Lap-Band. Diabetes typically resolves in a few days to weeks following a gastric bypass procedure, which is long before substantial weight loss has occurred. In contrast, remission of diabetes after a Lap-Band procedure does not occur until a substantial amount of weight has been lost over many months.
Can I eat anything I want after the surgery?
Definitely not. Nutrition must be carefully controlled with intake of protein, fat, carbohydrates and supplements.
When will I be able to go back to work?
With the Lap-Band, most people return to work in three to five days. Most gastric bypass patients return to work in two to four weeks. Your individual situation may vary and we always adjust this time based on individual circumstances.
What are the possible complications of surgery?
The possible complications of gastric bypass include wound infection, bowel leakage causing peritonitis, internal hernia, bowel obstruction, blood clots in the legs and lungs, heart attack, pneumonia, bleeding, temporary hair loss, need for additional surgery and death.
Lap-Band risks include slippage, pouch enlargement, band erosion, infection, short-term nausea, temporary hair loss, food intolerances, loss of muscle mass and death.
Even though our statistics are excellent, complications are possible and you should consider this information in making an informed decision. Weight loss surgery is an elective procedure. Before you sign your consent, you should be fully confident that you understand and want the procedure. Your surgeon will explain the risks to you in more detail during your consultation.
What is “dumping syndrome?”
If you eat a food that is high in sugar, the sugar gets absorbed rapidly, causing you to experience symptoms such as dizziness, increased pulse, sweating, abdominal cramping and diarrhea. This usually lasts for 15 to 20 minutes. Dumping syndrome is unlikely with Lap-Band.
When can I get pregnant?
Gastric bypass patients are advised to wait two years, because at that point their weight will be stable and there will be less chance of a miscarriage. Lap-Band is more flexible for women considering pregnancy.
What causes postoperative hair loss?
Temporary hair loss can be caused by inadequate protein or a change in hormone status. You can maximize your protein intake, but the hormone status will correct itself in a few months.
What about stomach ulcers?
Ulcers occasionally occur but can be easily cured with medication.
Is the gallbladder removed during the surgery?
No. Gallbladder issues are treated separately from weight loss surgery.
What do I do for constipation?
First, try to drink more liquids. If you can’t drink any more, then take 100 mg of a stool softener such as docusate (e.g., Colace) two times per day. If this doesn’t work, take 30 ml of milk of magnesia at bedtime.
What causes nausea after surgery?
The most common cause is eating too fast. Next is drinking your fluids with a meal or right before or after. As you try new foods, it can be expected that certain foods may cause nausea, especially in the first few months.
Can I get outlet stenosis?
It is possible, but none of our patients have had this occur in recent years.
Can I get gallstones?
Gallstones can form any time you lose weight rapidly. You will be given Actigall, a medication to help reduce the chance of gallstones, at your one-month postoperative visit.