After gastric band surgery


Laparoscopic adjustable Gastric Band surgery usually leads, on average, to loss of about 40% of excess weight. This means that people who are 200 pounds overweight can expect to lose an average of 80 pounds after Gastric Band surgery. However, these results vary widely. Gastric Band surgery has a very low complication rate. The most common problems after Gastric Banding surgery include: Minor surgical complications which occur less than 10% of the time; Nausea and vomiting. These can often be reduced by adjusting the tightness of the band; Problems with the adjustment device, wound infections, or minor bleeding; The risk of death due to Gastric Band surgery is about 1 in 2,000. Unlike gastric bypass surgery, Gastric Band surgery does not interfere with food absorption. For this reason, vitamin deficiencies are rare after Gastric Band surgery.

Before you leave the hospital, you will probably receive a visit from the hospital dietitian who will go over the required diet for Gastric Band surgery patients. It's important to completely understand the diet required before you decide on this type of weight loss surgery. Patients must follow a clear liquid diet the first 3 to 4 days following adjustable Gastric Band surgery. Failure to follow the prescribed diet can cause complications such as slippage or band erosion which may require additional surgery. The second phase of the Gastric Band diet consists of 5 to 6 weeks of a modified full liquid diet. The requirement of this phase is to consume liquids such as sugar free gelatin, baby food or soup three times a day. It is also necessary for you to consume two ounces of a liquid protein every hour for ten to twelve hours a day. Patients may eat food that is shredded in a food processor prior to eating during the second six weeks following Gastric Band surgery. The basic foods on the Gastric Band diet include meats or other forms of protein, salads and vegetables. The Gastric Band diet does not include most bread, potatoes, or other starchy vegetables. The length of these phases may be adjusted according a patient's personal weight loss goals and individual weight.

Protein is especially important following Gastric Band surgery. The stomach will never hold more than 4 to 6 ounces per meal after the surgery, so making every bite count is essential for nutritionally rounded and healthy weight loss success. Some foods may never be tolerated well by Gastric Band surgery patients. These foods include: Meats that are especially tough such as pork chops and steak. Some Gastric surgery patients have difficulty with the digestion of other meats, such as hamburger, as well; Grapefruits and oranges may also not be tolerated unless the membrane is removed before eating; The seeds and/or skins of all vegeables and fruits; High fiber vegetables such as sweet potatoes and celery; Spicy foods; Fried foods, and; Certain spices including garlic and onion salt, pepper, and cinnamon. If you are cannot tolerate milk, it is very important to add other protein and calcium rich foods to your diet. Cottage cheese is a suitable replacement. Dry milk can also be added to foods for additional protein. Any medicine you take may need to be adjusted following Gastric Band surgery since you will not be able to swallow pills that are irregular shaped or larger than an aspirin. This may mean taking liquid antibiotics and painkillers for an unrelated infection, changing tri estrogen capsules to a cream form, and breaking a blood pressure pill in half.

Back to Top