Gastric Banding
Before and After
Prep for Surgery
Two weeks before the surgery, the patient will be placed on a preop diet which consists of yogurt and water only. This will help to reduce the weight of the liver making it softer which will make the surgery safer and easier. Alternately, patients may choose to have other preparation such as Optifast etc which will be prescribed to the patient.
Lifestyle after SurgeryFirst Two Weeks: Liquid Diet
You will need to be on a liquid diet for the first two weeks after your surgery. This will allow time for your stomach to heal and the band to anchor. Eating solid foods too quickly can hurt your stomach and the band. It may cause band migration later on.
Liquids include anything you can slurp through a straw. They don't have to be clear liquids. Slim Fast, Boost, Carnation Instant Breakfast and other protein drinks are fine. You can also have tomato soup, creamed soups and even the liquid part of potato soup. A high fiber supplement will help with your bowel movement.
Third & Fourth Week: Pureed Food
After your two weeks on a liquid diet you will be on pureed foods for two weeks. Pureed foods are foods that don't require hardly any chewing to turn into baby food consistency. Such foods as mashed potatoes, cottage cheese, yogurt, and bananas are good pureed foods. You can also puree chicken and pretty much any other food, but it can change the flavor so not too many people do that!
When do I eat solid food?
4 weeks after surgery you can go back to normal foods. The key is “Chew, Chew, Chew”. The amount of fill in your band may vary from 2 to 8 c.c. Some people need a lot of fill and some people need only a little.
The biggest challenge to most bandsters is learning to CHEW CHEW CHEW! If you don't chew your food well you will have a very difficult time eating non-mushy foods. Most bandsters spit food back up that has not been chewed well enough, or has been eaten too fast. PBing stands for "Productive Burping". Most bandsters don't actually throw up their food; they kind of burp it up. There's no stomach acid at this point and pretty much the food tastes the same coming back up. If this happens to you, chew better next time.
Is there any food that I should avoid?
Thick bread (such as Italian and French).
Pasta and popcorn
White Rice is better tolerated
Dry Meats - moist meat slides better. Steak is hard to chew well but it can be done
Milk – generally acceptable. Soda Pop - the carbonation will cause discomfort
Vegetables – generally fine
Oranges & other citrus fruits - the fiber makes it hard to chew well
Note: The band will not work if you drink milk shakes and eat chocolate or any high caloric liquid. Remember the band is a simple restrictive device that your body will learn to work with to help you lose weight on a long term basis.