Lap-Band Support Program

Here to Help for the Long Run

Following surgery, you will continue to receive on-going support from our team. It is important that you maintain contact with the clinic and update us regularly on your progress. As well, by keeping in touch with us, we will be better able to advise you regarding the need for, and timing of adjustments to your Lap-Band.

Lap-Band continued support at the Surgical Weight Loss Centre includes the following:

• Lap-Band adjustments as necessary (no charge for these when performed at SWLC)
• Access to trained doctors and nurses in more than 20 cities across Canada to help with post-op care and band adjustments (additional fee if performed outside SWLC)
• 24-hour access to our surgeons for advice regarding medical concerns after the Lap-Band procedure
• Patient Coordinators to assist with your program and planning
• Ongoing follow-up with our Clinical Nurse Specialists in person, by telephone and by email
• Access to a Registered Dietitian for nutrition and eating advice
• Personalized comprehensive “Living with the Lap-Band” counselling
• Detailed record-keeping and monitoring of the progress of all patients using our customized LapBase® database software
• Post-operative advice on nutrition, behaviour modification, physical activity and general health
• Web-based educational seminars given by medical professionals
• Online Support Forum giving patients the ability to interact with hundreds of other SWLC patients
• Access to Support groups across Canada
• Annual SWLC Patient Symposium, which is a full day of presentations by leading bariatric experts and inspiring speakers and a time to socialize with SWLC staff and patients
• Complimentary Plastic Surgery and/or Skin Rejuvenation consultation with Dr. Frank Lista

Lap-Band adjustments

Lap-Band adjustments (called fills, or de-fills) are a regular part of our program to make sure the band is working effectively. The first adjustment is usually four to five weeks after the procedure, when the swelling in your stomach subsides. The frequency of band adjustments varies from person to person. Approximately 10 percent of people are able to lose weight at the desired pace without any adjustment at all. We recommend that you continue to monitor hunger and weight loss to help decide when it’s time for an adjustment.

Our nurse specialist adjusts your band in our clinic – a simple, relatively painless procedure that usually takes only minutes. It will likely require a number of visits to adjust the band so that it’s right for you. We call this the “sweet spot”, and it’s different for every person. If you are a long distance patient from the clinic you can choose to have your band adjusted locally by one of our affiliates at an additional cost.

Most patients achieve substantial and sustained weight loss within 18-24 months after surgery and will rarely need additional adjustments once they have achieved their weight loss goals.

Wellness Coach Support

Your wellness coach can help you determine what area of wellness such as sleep, nutrition, fitness, or stress that may adversely be impacting your success. The goal is to focus toward effective weight management as a compliment to the Lap-Band or Gastric Balloon. Even with the best of intentions and effort, setbacks are possible. Wellness coaching will help you identify priorities, motivators and obstacles to goal attainment. Working one-on-one with a wellness coach creates a relationship based on trust, friendship, comfort and reliability. In an effort to fulfill your vision of success, the relationship you share with your coach will offer accountability and will enable you to find your own solutions, build confidence and self efficacy resulting in the strength to take charge of your destiny. Working with a coach for several sessions will enable you to routinely achieve smaller realistic goals while progressing toward your weight management vision. Ultimately, the goal of coaching is to assist you in developing skills that will bring about lasting change.

Considering plastic surgery

How much loose skin results from weight loss is dependent on many factors. These can include your age, overall health and nutritional status, level of physical activity, how much weight is lost and how long you were obese. Since the Lap-Band does not cause malabsorption of nutrients and the weight loss is at a safe and healthy rate, most patients will not require cosmetic surgery.

However, should you choose to consider cosmetic surgery, we will offer you a complimentary Plastic Surgery and/or Skin Rejuvenation consultation with Dr. Frank Lista. Dr. Frank Lista is the medical director and founder of the Plastic Surgery Clinic, one of the most modern cosmetic surgical clinics in Ontario. He specializes in body contouring and sculpting, especially for people who have achieved significant weight loss. Breast lifts, tummy tucks, upper-arm lifts, and thigh lifts are his areas of specialty. To give your skin the time it needs to adjust to your weight loss, plastic surgery is not usually recommended for at least a year or two after the procedure.

Or visit the website at: www.theplasticsurgeryclinic.com