Comply with Follow-Up Appointments for Adjustments

The Lap Band can be adjusted regularly to suit the needs of the patient. Adjustments are performed at the WeightLoss Solutions Australia clinic nd only take a few minutes. They can also be performed at a variety of other GP clinics, should patients be unable to visit our clinic. The number of adjustments needed varies from patient to patient and finding the right comfort level with your gastric band may take a few adjustments, particularly in the first 6-12 months. It is also important to be conscious of being able to consume larger volumes at food at times as this may indicate the need for an adjustment.

Being able to adjust the band as needed is a major benefit to the Lap Band over other surgical methods. The band can be adjusted if you become ill or fall pregnant to allow you to continue to meet your nutritional needs. Your first adjustment is around 6 weeks after surgery and subsequent adjustments will depend on how much restriction you are getting with your meal portions. Too much restriction may lead to discomfort, regurgitation, and a poor diet; whilst not enough restriction will have an impact on your weight loss efforts. Getting this balance right is essential and feedback regarding your eating habits is vital. This is why we encourage you to keep up with all follow-up appointments after surgery. 

Adjusting your band is done with the use of a Huber needle, which is inserted into a small port that lies underneath the tissue layer of your skin. This port is connected to a short piece of very thin tubing which is connected to the band that sits around the top of the stomach. Saline is inserted into the port, travels down the tubing, and ends up in the band. This very simple procedure simple and painless, read about Melanie's experience of her first adjustment.  

The above picture shows what the Gastric Band that goes around the stomach looks like without any saline and with significant amount of saline for restriction.

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