LAP-BAND Adjustments at Surgical Bariatric Centers in Tampa Florida

A key advantage of the LAP-BAND System is that the tightness of the band can be adjusted to allow for more or less food intake as your weight loss needs change.

What Does the Term ‘Lap Band Fill’ Mean?

A LAP-BAND fill refers to the process of adjusting how tightly the Lap Band fits around your stomach by adding sterile saline (salt water) to the balloon inside the lap band cuff. The balloon is filled by inserting a sterile needle full of saline into a port that lies just beneath the your skin and connects to the balloon via slender tubing.

How Often Will I Need to Have My LAP-BAND Adjusted?

Dr. Aguila will set your post surgical follow-up schedule to meet your specific health and weight loss needs. Expect to see your surgeon within the first month after surgery; at that time, your surgeon will fill your Lap Band for the first time. For the first year after the weight loss operation, most patients see the surgeon every 4 weeks.

During the second and third years after Lap Band surgery, most surgeons see their patients every three to six months to ensure that the Lap Band is properly adjusted and that patients are maintaining their weight loss. Based on your health history and how much weight you lost during your first year after Lap Band surgery, your surgeon will determine the right follow up schedule for you during years two and three.

Your Lap Band fill schedule will be tailored to your specific needs.

You are more likely to realize your weight loss goals and reduce the risk of complications if you work closely with your surgeon and surgeon’s staff. If you are having any type of difficulty between Lap Band fill appointments, contact your surgeon immediately.

Who Performs the LAP-BAND Fills and Where are They Performed?

Usually, the bariatric surgeon who performed your operation also performs your Lap Band fills. Generally, the Lap Band can be filled in the exam room at your surgeon’s office. Occasionally, the fill will need to be performed in a radiology suite so that the surgeon can use an x-ray device to accurately determine how much the fill has tightened the Lap Band.

You may be asked to follow an all-liquid diet for a day or two after having your Lap Band. Doing so will give your stomach a chance to adjust to the new degree of restriction.

What if I skip my Fill Appointment?

To minimize the risk of complications and maximize your weight loss success, it is extremely important that you keep your fill appointments. If you are unable to make it to your appointment, call your surgeon’s office to reschedule the appointment.

How Will I Know If I Need a Fill?

When your Lap Band is properly adjusted, you will be able to eat only about a third the amount of food you ate before your surgery. If you can eat more than this amount of food or if you are following the dietary guidelines your surgeon gave you but your weight loss has slowed considerably or stopped, you may need a fill to fine tune your Lap Band.

Remember, the Lap Band is designed to restrict the amount of solid food you can eat. If you are consuming a lot of high-calorie liquids or soft foods, you will defeat the Lap Band’s ability to help you lose weight.

Occasionally, especially if you have had recent Lap Band surgery, air can get trapped inside the lap-band and reduce the amount of saline the band can hold. In the next few weeks, the air will seep out and the amount of fill in your band will decrease. When this happens, you may notice that you can suddenly eat more food than usual and should call to schedule a fill with your surgeon.