I am just now thinking about getting a lap band. I know it is an outpatient surgery where a band is put around the stomach to create a smaller stomach. What leads up to the surgery? What happens immediately following surgery? How often do I have to return to the doctor? I'm not sure how the whole thing works.

A bit more info inserted into your post below:

I am just now thinking about getting a lap band. I know it is an outpatient surgery Often it can be done outpatient, but sometimes surgeons require overnight stays, and an overnight stay classifies you as inpatient. So this isn't always true. where a band is put around the stomach to create a smaller stomach. Technically incorrect. AN adjustable band is put around the esophagus, above the stomach, creating a "pouch" above the stomach that allows the sensation of being full to trigger faster, and that restrictis the movement of food into the stomach, allowing the sensation to last longer. What leads up to the surgery? Most programs include a psych eval, a meeting with a nutriotionist or dietician, an information seminar, a consultation with the surgeon, and any testing that might be deemed necessary. What happens immediately following surgery? You wake up from anesthesia. :sneaky:How often do I have to return to the doctor? This is different for each person. I had to go back a week later to have my staples removed. 5 weeks after that for my first fill. 3 weeks after that for my second. Several months later for my third, then an unfill, then another fill. I've been banded over two years. So for me, 6 visits total. I'm not sure how the whole thing works. The band? Visit our FAQ section, and become familiar with our search function. There are MANY explanations of how it works, what's involved, what surgery/recovery were like, etc.