1. How would my body react to the Lap-Band System?

The Lap-Band gastric band is made of a silicone elastomer. The material is considered non-biodegradable and biocompatible. This means that the material will not degrade and will not cause a threatening reaction, its composition is fully compatible with human tissues. It is worth mentioning that the body reacts to any non-biological component; however, this reaction is normal and it only forms fibrous tissues around the band causing no damage to either the band or the body.

2. What are the advantages of a GASTRIC BAND over other surgical methods for weight loss?

The most important one is that it is adjustable; that is, the degree of restriction to food flow can be easily adjusted. Another very important advantage is that it is 100% reversible. At any given moment and for whatever reason, the band may be removed through a surgical procedure, and everything goes back to its original state.

It is the least invasive method as no cutting or stapling of the stomach is involved. The band is restrictive; it produces excellent results by mechanically limiting food intake without causing malabsorption.

3. What are GASTRIC BAND adjustments and how are they performed?

The adjustment is a simple procedure that takes no more than 10 to 15 minutes, and it is done at the X-Ray department. The procedure is done by piercing the subcutaneous reservoir and injecting or removing enough liquid solution to match the level of restriction needed by the patient. The procedure is monitored using X-Rays projected over a solution that is ingested by the patient. See more about adjustments here.

4. Are there any risks involved in GASTRIC BAND surgery?

Every surgical procedure implies risks. It is important that the risks do not exceed the benefits, and rest assured that with the LAP-BAND this will not be the case.
The Lap-Band System surgery is the least invasive of all weight loss surgeries. It is performed using laparoscopy, which means minimum invasion, only four 1-cm incisions. It is a standardized procedure offering quicker recovery and causing less discomfort than conventional open surgery.

5. What does the itinerary for this procedure looks like?

Gastric Band Surgery is a standard procedure, and 95% of the time it's like this:

6. Am I a candidate for GASTRIC BAND surgery?

If you need a radical change in your life, want to be in good physical shape and have a better future. If you are between 15 and 65 years old and have a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or greater. If you experience concurrent illnesses that could improve or disappear by losing weight; and if you have suffered overweight for years; then, definitely, you are a candidate for this type of procedure.

By concurrent illness we mean an illness that occurs at the same time as obesity and is frequently related to it. This type of illness will tend to be weaker and eventually disappear as a result of losing weight.

The most frequent concurrent illnesses are:

		Diabetes
		Hypertension
		High blood cholesterol
		Asthma
		Arthritis

We must mention that individuals whose BMI is higher than 25 are at a considerable risk of experiencing these illnesses. See more about Lite'N Free eligibility requirements here.

7. What changes will take place in my life after the surgery?

There will definitely be a positive change, but we will take one step at a time.

The first one is to recover from surgery. What a GASTRIC BAND does is to mechanically restrict food flow. Therefore, your eating habits will have to change and following medical instructions is of paramount importance.

Instructions have to do with:

		How to eat
		Eating rules
		Physical exercise

Therefore, the most important change will be in eating habits, which will lead to weight loss and physical wellbeing..

8. What is Body Mass Index (BMI)?

It is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to both adult men and women. BMI is equal to the weight (in kilograms) divided by the square of the height (in meters). BMI = Weight in Kg / (Height in meters squared)

BMI from 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight; if it is equal to or greater than 30, it is considered obesity. In English units, it is the weight in pounds divided by the square of the height in inches, and the result multiplied by 703
BMI = [ (weight in pounds) / (height in inches) 2 ] x 703

SOURCE: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi/bmi-adult-formula.htm

9.If I am presently taking medication, do I have to make any changes after a GASTRIC BAND has been implanted?

No, you must continue taking all prescribed medication, taking into account that now you will probably have to take capsules or break tablets into small pieces to prevent them from getting stuck in the area of restricted food flow caused by the band. Your doctor will probably tell you not to take aspirin or any other type of non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory analgesic (pain killers) to prevent gastric irritation and potential migration of the band.

It is important to remember that one advantage of losing weight is better control or disappearance of concurrent illnesses, which will lead to reduction or elimination of any medication used to treat those illnesses.

10. What happens after the surgery?

First, you must wait for full recovery, beginning with a liquid diet, then a soft diet, and finally solid food. This is true for the initial six-week period. After that, you will be able to eat almost anything, except those foods that cause you discomfort. You must remember that the amount of food reaching your intestine is now mechanically controlled by the band. This is why you must eat healthy food with an abundant supply of vitamins and nutrients. It will be important to avoid high-calorie food, such as ice-cream or milk-shakes, which would reduce the benefits of the GASTRIC BAND to the point of making it useless.

It is also important to remember that you must eat in small quantities and chew food well, being especially careful with the skins of some fruits or vegetables, such as grapes, potatoes, and tomatoes, or high-fiber food.

Once you reach your ideal weight, you must maintain the discipline you learned after the surgery. You must remember that reaching the ideal weight is a goal that must be maintained on a daily basis, and that the reward of a healthy life and good physical shape are worth the effort.

It is not necessary to remove the band. However, if it has to be removed for any reason, the risk of being overweight again must be seriously considered.

11. What if I decide to become pregnant?

Congratulations! In fact, that will be an important next step if that is one of your goals. Losing weight significantly increases the likelihood of becoming pregnant.

If the need arises to increase the amount of nutrients during pregnancy, the band can simply be loosened. After giving birth and deciding to regain your ideal weight, the band can be readjusted to restrict food flow once more.

12. How much weight will I lose and how fast?

That is the main purpose of this surgical procedure. It's difficult to generalize about weight loss because it varies from person to person, mainly for two reasons.The first and most important factor is the person’s commitment to follow the team's medical instructions, who will help the individual to lose weight as quickly as possible. The other is the patient’s own metabolism, something that will eventually stabilize after losing the first pounds.

You may be able to lose more than 65 pounds (30 kg) in the first year, at the rate of 1 to 3 pounds per week. Normally, it's possible to draw a weight-loss curve showing an acceleration period until the optimum number of pounds lost per week is reached; then, it will show a deceleration period as you approach your optimum weight.

13. About Monterrey

Monterrey is the third largest city in Mexico. It is the country’s most industrialized city. Its has one of the highest per capita incomes in Latin America. Many of the most competitive companies in Mexico and Latin america are headquartered in this city. With five universities and three internationally renown medical schools, Monterrey is an important source of human resources for the rest of the country. It's a two-hour drive away from the U.S.-Mexico border (Toll Freeway), or one hour by plane from Dallas or Houston.

You'll find plenty of American first-class hotels and restaurants. Shopping is also one of the most revered hobbies by locals and tourists alike. Monterrey’s convention center hosts multiple, world-class events in politics, art, science and commerce.