Surgeons FAQ
Q.1 Availability in the US?
Q.3 Up-front cost?
Q.4 Health insurance?
Q.6 Difference bet. LAP-BAND & Swedish Band?
Q.7 Qualification for the surgery?
Q.8 Compatibility with past gallbladder surgery?
Q.9 Can be done with gallbladder surgery?
Q.10 Can be done with other abdominal surgery?
Q.11 Compatibility with intestinal bypass surgery?
Q.12 The surgery with medication allergy?
Q.13 With pregnancy?
Q.14 Pre-op exams?
Q.15 Additional exams to pre-op work?
Q.16 Hospitalization?
Q.17 Open incision?
Q.18 What is the band inflated with?
Q.19 Silicone band safety?
Q.20 Long-term follow-up care?
Q.21 LAP-BAND adjustment?
Q.22 LAP-BAND reversibility?
Q.23 After the surgery?
Q.24 Average weight loss?
Q.25 Weight gain after the surgery?
Q.26 Surgery scar?
Q.27 Surgery risks?
Q.28 Waiting list?
Q.1
Is the LAP-BAND surgical procedure available in the US?
A. The LAP-BAND surgical procedure has been approved in the USA. For more
information, contact BioEnterics at:
info@bioenterics.com
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Q.3
What are the costs needed up front?
A. None, except in the case of pre-op testing. In the USA, these exams
can cost up to $1000 or more depending on how and where they are done.
Check with your Insurance Provider
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Q.4
Does health insurance cover this procedure?
A. I suggest that you contact your healthcare insurance provider to find
out if the costs would be covered under your plan.
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Q.6
What is the difference between the LAP-BAND and the Swedish Band?
A. From a strictly scientific point of view, both the LAP-BAND and the
Swedish Band function in the same manner. The preference is the LAP-BAND
for a number of reasons:
1). Because it is the type of prosthesis that will be used in the USA, as
soon as the investigative trials are completed by the FDA. The Swedish
Band will never be utilized in the USA.
2). Because even if a non-expert in the field were to examine the two
bands, they would note differences in the design, as well as the quality
of silicone in favor of the LAP-BAND.
3). Behind the reputation of the LAP-BAND is a solid multi-national
American company, BioEnterics.
4). In Europe, more than 60,000 LAP-BAND procedures have been done. while
the Swedish Band totals a few thousand.
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Q.7
What information is required to qualify as a candidate for LAP-BAND
surgery?
A. You must be between the ages of 18 and 55, and at least 100 pounds
overweight, or a Body Mass Index (BMI) of between 35 and 40+ to be
eligible for this surgery (or a BMI of 35 with significant co-mobidity).
You should be in reasonably good health and your health information should
include any current or past medical problems. Patients with severe and
irreversible medical problems are considered ineligible for this surgical
procedure.
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Q.8
Can I have this procedure done having had prior gallbladder surgery?
A. Yes, providing pre-op tests do not reveal any other problems. In other
cases, the patient has an Ultrasound done to determine If they have
developed gallstones, in that case the gallbladder is removed during
surgery.
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Q.9
If I need gallbladder surgery, can the band be applied at the same time?
A. Yes. Both surgical procedures can be done at the same time, at no
additional cost.
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Q.10
If I need other abdominal surgery (Hiatal Hernia, Tubal Ligation, Ovarian
Cyst, etc.), can the band be applied at the same time?
A. Yes. Any one of these surgical procedures can be done at the same
time, at no additional cost.
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Q.11
When I was younger, I had intestinal bypass surgery. Would I be a
candidate?
A. Yes, the LAP-BAND can be applied, however it is important to know much
more about the patient's clinical history.
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Q.12
If I am allergic to medication, does this affect my eligibility?
A. Generally, being allergic to medication is not contra-indicative to
surgery. But your surgeon should know what allergy it is.
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Q.13
Are there complications if you ever plan on getting pregnant?
A. No, in fact surgery in many cases can increase your chances of
becoming pregnant.
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Q.14
What pre-op exams do I need, and where can I have them done?
A. Pre-op exams are required before any surgery is scheduled. These tests
include: Upper G.I. Series, EKG, Chest X-Ray, Gallbladder UltraSound,
Blood & Urine Analysis and are required before any surgery can be
scheduled. These tests can be done by a lab or local hospital preferably
through your doctor in your area.
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Q.15
If I have pre-op work done in my state, are there additional exams needed
at the location abroad?
A. Usually not. Once a patient is approved for surgery there should be no
further need for exams In some cases, the surgeon may require an
additional blood test or urine analysis prior to surgery.
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Q.16
How many days in the hospital, and how much down from work is necessary?
A. The LAP-BAND operation is performed under a general anesthetic and
takes about 75 minutes. Because it is a mini-invasive surgical procedure,
the patient normally spends a total of 3 days in the hospital, and can
generally resume their activities and be back at work within one week if
need be.
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Q.17
If while placing the band, the need to proceed to an open incision
presents itself, can this be accomplished?
A. Yes.
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Q.18
What is the band inflated with?
A. Once in position, an adjustment is done by inflating or deflating the
band with a sterile saline solution through the access port located just
below the skin.
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Q.19
How safe is silicone given the breast implants track record?
A. A silicone gel is used in breast implants while in this case the
silicone band is rigid, therefore preventing silicone particles from
entering the blood stream. However, silicone has not been shown to be
dangerous.
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Q.20
What about long-term follow-up care or adjustments in my home state?
A. This a very important part of the success of this procedure. Regular
follow-up visits with your doctor must be maintained to examine weight
loss progress, or for any adjustments to the band that may be necessary.
You must organize who and where your follow-up will be done before you
have surgery.
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Q.21
People have experienced stretching of the gastroplasty pouch, is this
common with the LAP-BAND?
A. With the LAP-BAND, follow-up care is extremly important to monitor the
band's placement and position. Adjustments may be required along the way
to insure proper band functionality.
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Q.22
Is the LAP-BAND reversabile? Is it a life-long implant or should it be
removed after time?
A. The Lap-Band can be removed, however it is normally a life-long
commitment that is intended to help keep weight off.
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Q.23
Can I expect post-operative problems with eating, or bowel movements?
A. After surgery, you will have to learn new dietary habits. While this
new eating pattern is being established, expect some episodes of vomiting.
For up to three days after surgery in the hospital, only small amounts of
clear liquids will be allowed. Solid foods will not be introduced until
clear liquids and soft foods can be consumed. The progression to solids is
slow and varies among patients. Initially, you begin with only eight
teaspoons of food. Eating must be done slowly and stopped when you feel
full. Only small portions three times a day are allowed. Eating too much
at one sitting can cause vomiting.
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Q.24
What is the average monthly/yearly weight loss?
A. Weight loss is difficult to project. After surgery, only by carefully
following the new eating patterns and exercising daily, a patient can lose
more than 30 kilos (about 65 lbs. in the first year). Compared to Gastric
Bypass surgery the weight loss is about the same. The results vary for
everyone.
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Q.25
Can I expect to gain weight after several years even with the LAP-BAND?
A. The weight loss process is long and arduous, and only by rigorously
following new dietary habits, and exercising regularly, will keep the
weight off. If you are ready to make this commitment for yourself, the
LAP-BAND can offer a way to shed that weight and get back to living a long
and healthy life.
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Q.26
Is there any scarring after surgery?
A. Since laparoscopic surgery is mini-invasive, there is minimal
scarring. You will have 5 to 6 small incisions that usually heal quickly.
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Q.27
What are the risk factors in LAP-BAND surgery?
A. Any gastric operation for obesity is major surgery and carries with it
the risks that would go with any complex operation. Athough the LAP-BAND
procedure is minmally invasive surgery, it is not without its own risks.
Infections can develop around the stomach band or at the site where the
reservoir is placed under the skin. In such an event, a patient would be
required to stay in the hospital a few extra days for the infection to
clear. Bleeding or injury to the spleen, may require conversion to an open
procedure. The access port or the band may leak and may need to be
replaced. While the risk of dying during the operation is small (about 0.5
in 1000), there is a slight risk because of either a heart attack or a
life-threatening blood clot passing into the lungs.
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Q.28
Is there a waiting list?
A. No, but the whole process to surgery is done in stages and when all
this is completed surgery can be scheduled.
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