Weight loss surgery comes in many different forms. Thanks to the ingenuity of surgeons and researchers, there are weight loss surgeries that can address the wide variety of needs that patients have. One of these needs was the desire to have an easily reversible but effective weight loss procedure and, as a result, the Lap Band was created.
But what can you eat after getting Lap Band surgery? Are there specific foods to eat after lap band surgery? We’ll be discussing that in this article.
What Is Lap Band Surgery?
The laparoscopic adjustable gastric band procedure (or Lap Band) was developed in order to provide a reversible, safer alternative to gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy. A silicone gastric band is surgically installed onto the stomach and filled with a saline solution to tighten the band. The fit of the band can be tightened or loosened by the surgeon by simply altering the amount of saline in the band.
It’s a restrictive procedure that reduces the amount of food a person can eat by constricting the stomach to form a stomach pouch. This pouch is a fraction of the total size of the stomach and slows down the rate of digestion while causing patients to feel more full on a much smaller amount of food. Since it doesn’t require bypassing the intestine, there’s no malabsorptive aspect to the procedure.
What’s even nicer about the procedure is that it’s reversible: if someone no longer wants the band, they can have it removed. Gastric bands tend to last 10 years. This sets it apart from both gastric bypass which requires revision surgery to change and gastric sleeve which is irreversible. Due to its irreversible nature, it became popular in the 2000s.
Post Lap Band Surgery Diet During Recovery
After getting Lap Band surgery, you’ll be put on a clear liquids diet for a few days. Then you’ll be allowed to drink additional liquids and pureed foods. During this phase, meeting your protein requirements is important, so we recommend drinking low calorie protein shakes in small portions throughout the day.
After a few weeks (2 to 4 weeks) post op, your surgeon will recommend that you start reintroducing foods. Start with soft foods like ground meats, scrambled eggs, and mashed potatoes. Then, slowly reintroduce foods like whole steamed vegetables and lean meats.
What Can You Eat After Lap Band Surgery Recovery?
After going through the phases of the post-op diet, you’ll be able to eat most foods with one major restriction: portion sizes. You’ll need to eat much smaller portions in order to avoid abdominal discomfort.
We also recommend avoiding foods that are high in sugar and fat. Not only are these foods high in calories and can seriously derail your weight loss progress, these types of foods can cause unpleasant consequences such as heartburn and stomach pain.
The foods we recommend you eat after lap band surgery are: lean meats, leafy vegetables, root vegetables, non-citrus fruits, whole grains, and legumes. Get enough protein and fiber, eat small portions, and drink between meals (not with meals). Sip water between meals to avoid stomach discomfort and nausea.
Read more: Foods To Avoid Early On After Lap Band Surgery
Lap Band Surgery Lubbock
If you’re looking to get lap band surgery, Lubbock weight loss clinic West Texas Bariatric can get it done for you. We’ve been providing Lap Band surgery in lubbock or decades and will help you decide whether or not weight loss surgery procedure is right for you. Contact us today to learn more about Lap Band Surgery in Lubbock.
