I've gone to a couple of different seminars and they have each emphasized that the lap band system is much less intrusive on your body than gastric by-pass. As I've read here I've been very surprised at all the pre-op and immediate post-op restrictions. The latest surgeon indicated there were basically no pre-op for banding. He was also very clear that it might be months before the band was fully functional and giving the restriction you want. Until they reach that "sweet spot" (his term), he said he's had quite a few patients gain weight after having the band installed. So that leads to my question. If the stomach is not being cut and you do not feel much restriction until after you are filled, what exactly is your stomach "healing" from? I've read through the frequently asked questions and it emphasis not eating any food until the doctor allows while you "heal". I'm not challenging the rules. If I'm told not to eat solid food for 3 weeks, I won't. But it does confuse me as to what exactly the stomach is healing from if it isn't being cut. Thanks for any help in understanding.

I've gone to a couple of different seminars and they have each emphasized that the lap band system is much less intrusive on your body than gastric by-pass. As I've read here I've been very surprised at all the pre-op and immediate post-op restrictions. The latest surgeon indicated there were basically no pre-op for banding. He was also very clear that it might be months before the band was fully functional and giving the restriction you want. Until they reach that "sweet spot" (his term), he said he's had quite a few patients gain weight after having the band installed. So that leads to my question. If the stomach is not being cut and you do not feel much restriction until after you are filled, what exactly is your stomach "healing" from? I've read through the frequently asked questions and it emphasis not eating any food until the doctor allows while you "heal". I'm not challenging the rules. If I'm told not to eat solid food for 3 weeks, I won't. But it does confuse me as to what exactly the stomach is healing from if it isn't being cut. Thanks for any help in understanding.

ridethewave-

Hi there. I think in healing, it means letting the swelling go down. When I was first banded I felt restriction, probably most people do for awhile, b/c their stomach has swelled from the trauma done to it with placing the band around. Good luck. I hope this helps alittle. :smile:

Not only swelling but the band is stitched to your stomach and you have to let scar tissue form in the back of the stomach to keep the band in place where it isn't stitched.

If the stomach is not being cut and you do not feel much restriction until after you are filled, what exactly is your stomach "healing" from? I've read through the frequently asked questions and it emphasis not eating any food until the doctor allows while you "heal". I'm not challenging the rules. If I'm told not to eat solid food for 3 weeks, I won't. But it does confuse me as to what exactly the stomach is healing from if it isn't being cut. Thanks for any help in understanding.

ridethewave,

This a very understandable question to ask, especially when you are learning about the band. After they place the band around the top portion of your stomach, they stitch a flap of your stomach up over the band to help prevent slippage. When they 1st started doing the lap-band, they didn't stitch the flap over it, and there were a large number of slippages. This procedure has drastically decreased the slippage complication post-op.

There is a video of the actual surgery being performed on the internet and I think on U-Tube as well. You should be able to google it and find the website. If it doesn't bother you to watch that kind of thing, I would suggest anyone with questions about what is actually done during the surgery to watch it. I'm an RN, so it didn't bother me at all, but it may be difficult for some people to watch. I found it very interesting.

Joan

Thanks for asking this question -although I have been following my doc's orders... I too have been wondering what exactly my stomach is "healing" from...makes a lot of sense now! :smile:

I pretty much understood about the swelling and all but after watching the video on You Tube I understand more now about why you need to give yourself time to heal, wow!

Thanks all. I'm still trying to get up the nerve to watch the video ( squeemish here ) but it does certainly make more sense!