Because the Gastric Band Institute has overseen the surgical weight loss of several thousand patients to date, I’ve been able to observe unique patterns common to very successful patients as well as those patterns common to less successful patients. This information may be helpful to potential patients trying to decide if a surgical weight loss procedure is right for them.
Patients struggling with their weight loss tend to look at their gastric band as something which should physically stop them from eating that one extra bite. They tend to “challenge” their operation, sometimes almost to prove that they can eat past their latest adjustment. As a result, they get food stuck more frequently and tend to have their bands tighter and have more problems with reflux.
The successful patients tend to look at their band as a tool which helps them stop themselves from eating more than is necessary to satisfy their hunger. They stop well before the last bite, they have more “eating margin” as described in a previous blog, have less reflux and don’t need to have their bands adjusted as tight. If you have questions about how to utilize the band for weight loss properly, please leave me a comment and I will reply, or contact Brian or Melissa, our physician assistants, at 702-384-8446. Also, if you have any advice or testimonials of how eating with the band correctly has made your weight loss successful, please tell us about it.
– Dr. Darren Soong
Tags: Allergan lap band, Bariatric Surgeons, Dr. Darren Soong, Ethicon Realize band, Gastric Band, Gastric Band Institute of Las Vegas, lap band, lap band surgery, Las Vegas Weight Loss Doctors, Weight Loss Surgeons, Weight Loss Surgery
Had a question Re: Lapband and potential of Emergency Room needed gastric tubes. In any case, I would advise the Dr. I had a lapband; If a gastric tube was needed, say to pump out excessive fluid, could they insert one and if so, would they need to do it a different way? I ask this because my brother just went through this and he had a gastric tube for 3 days. He has no lapband but I do.
I could see potential of causing a hole in the stoma if the Dr. attempted this without specific knowledge.
Thanks!
The chance for perforating the stomach of a gastric band patient with a soft flexible gastric tube is very small but not zero. If a gastric band patient is in the ER for nausea or vomiting, inserting a gastric tube will be of little help as the pouch above the band is so small. We don’t recommend it. Usually, all the fluid in the band will be removed via the port to open the band to it’s gretest diameter. If that doesn’t relieve the symptoms, then xrays are necessary to rule out a slip or prolapse. Dr. Soong