INTRODUCTION TO GASTRIC BYPASS SURGERY

Please remember that you may not progress from Phase I diet to Phase IV diets as noted, in time frame given. It is an individual process for each patient. This is a learning process, learning to adapt to foods. Also remember that it takes approximately six months before you can tolerate all types of foods, especially meats, and there may also be foods that you may not tolerate eating again.

The end goal of weight loss surgery is to lose approximately 70% of total body fat. The end result of gastric bypass surgery is that you will always continue to require only small portions of food, but usually will be able to eventually tolerate all types of food. The key to this is that you will be totally satisfied with the amount of food that eat and will not have continued cravings for larger quantities of food at mealtimes.

DIET PRINCIPLES:

Because of the reduced stomach size, the amount of food allowed at any given time is limited to no more than 1 oz to 2 oz every 30 to 60 minutes.
High caloric foods, beverages or snacks are omitted from this diet.
It is recommended that food be eaten slowly and in very small quantities at mealtime. Approximately 20-30 minutes should be planned for each meal.
To prevent dehydration, at least 6 cups of fluids are encouraged. We advise that you sip one cup of liquid over a one-hour period. Stop sipping liquids within 45 lo 60 minutes of mealtime.
Because the calorie intake is very low and food choices are limited, it it’s difficult to meet your body's need for vitamins and minerals; therefore you should take a multivitamin/mineral supplement that provides 100% of the RDA in the form of a chewable tablet or liquid supplement.
Because of the reduced stoma size (stoma is the opening between the two parts of the stomach and is the size of your little finger) foods need to be chewed thoroughly to prevent obstruction.

REMEMBER

There is no painless way to “melt" the pounds away. Your total calories eaten must be less than your total calories expended in order for you to lose weight.
Avoid overeating! Overeating may cause you to vomit or (over a period of time) stretch your stomach and decrease the effectiveness of your surgery. Indications of fullness are (1) a feeling of pressure or fullness in the center just below your rib cage, (2) a feeling of nausea, or (3) pain in your shoulder area or upper chest.
Chew foods thoroughly.
Eat slowly- 30 chews per bite.
Use small plates and bowls; you may want to try a baby spoon.
Put your fork or spoon down on the table between bites.
STOP eating as soon as you feel full.
Drink 5 to 6 cups of liquids per day between meals. Recommended liquids are water, broth, low-caloric beverages, tea or coffee.
Sip all beverages slowly.
Don’t drink high-calorie drinks such as milkshakes, soda pop, beer, and other alcoholic beverages. By sipping on such liquids during the day, many calories can be consumed without feeling fullness. This will result in a poor weight loss record.
Don't forget to take a liquid or chewable vitamin supplement with iron daily. Women over 40 should discuss the use of a calcium supplement with their physician.
Don’t eat high-calorie and low-nutrient foods such as cakes, cookies, pies, candy, pastries, gravies, jellies, jam, honey, sugar, ice cream, etc.
Bake, broil, boil or steam foods instead of frying to cut down on empty calories. BEWARE-You may also have problems tolerating high-fat, greasy foods after surgery.
EXERCISE-regularly. Consult your physician about when to implement a regular exercise program after surgery.
Bypass surgery is only a TOOL for you to regain control of your weight.

INTRODUCTION TO GASTRIC BANDING SURGERY

What is the Gastric Banding Procedure?

The Lap Band surgery is the safest, least invasive and only adjustable surgical treatment for morbid obesity in the United States. It was FDA approved in 2001. It is a recognized surgical procedure by most insurance companies today. This procedure induces weight loss by reducing the capacity of the stomach, thereby restricting the amount of food that can be consumed at one time.

Safest and Least Invasive Obesity Surgery

Like a waist-belt, the band is fastened around the upper stomach to created a new, tiny stomach pouch. As a result, patients experience an earlier sensation of fullness and are satisfied with smaller amounts of food, as if they had consumed their usual "before surgery" meals. Since there is no cutting, stapling, or stomach re-routing involved in this procedure, it is considered the least traumatic of all weight loss surgeries. This procedure is usually performed Laparoscopic -- small tiny puncture incisions which obviates the larger incision as in the Open surgery, patients generally experience less pain and scarring. Mortality risk with the LAP-BAND system is also significantly lower than with other obesity surgery procedures, as is the risk of nutritional deficiencies associated with the gastric bypass. In addition, the hospital stay after this procedure is shortened to less than 23hours. Patients can typically resume normal activities with 1 week, which is quicker than with other surgical alternatives.

Reversible Procedure

Because no permanent changes are made to the body's anatomy and physiology, this procedure can essentially be completely reversed. If necessary, all of the system components can be removed from the body with no damage to the digestive organs. The stomach will generally return to its original form and capacity once the band is removed.

Adjustable

The LAP-BAND System is an adjustable silicone band with an inflatable inner surface. It is connected to an access port below the skin surface by thin, kink-resistant silicone tubing. The port allows the surgeon to adjust the size of the LAP-BAND to meet individual patient weight loss needs by adding or removing fluid to inflate or deflate the band. This impacts the amount and consumption rate of food. Adjustments to the band, which are performed in the surgeon's office, are determined by the patient's weight loss, the amount of food that can be comfortably eaten, the exercise regimen, and other issues surrounding the patient's health, as well as the amount of fluid already in the patient's band.

Living with the LAP-BAND

The effectiveness of the LAP-BAND depends on the success of the surgical procedure and the ability of the patient to change his or her diet and eating behavior. We offer the LAP-BAND procedure and the comprehensive long-term care for our patients, including dietary, behavior-modification, and counseling support. After surgery, LAP-BAND patients must maintain scheduled follow-up visits.