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Recovery Time for Lapband Surgery

The Lap Band system is a surgically implanted weight loss tool that restricts the amount of available space in the patient's stomach, therefore restricting the amount of food the patient can consume. Recovery from Lap Band surgery varies from patient to patient, but will follow a somewhat consistent pattern.

  1. Days after surgery

    • In the first few weeks after surgery, the patient will experience soreness and will need to follow some basic protocols to prevent infection of the surgical site. It will take anywhere from two to six weeks to be able to perform at pre-surgical levels.

    Dietary restrictions

    • The dietary adjustments are strict. During weeks one and two the patient consumes liquids only. Pureed foods will come in weeks three and four. Transitioning to solids can cause nausea and vomiting, which may contribute to complications such as band slippage. Revert to liquids if solid food causes vomiting.

    Week five

    • Beginning week five, soft-cooked solid foods will be introduced following the same protocol as pureed foods. Any vomiting will result in reverting back a stage to prevent band slippage.

    Adjustments

    • The band will be adjusted at about six weeks, depending on the patient's situation. The band will be loosened if the patient experiences ongoing vomiting, or tightened if weight loss is not occurring as expected. Saline solution is injected or withdrawn from the band via a port, or stoma, created during the surgical process. This process will be repeated several times during the first year of treatment.

    Long term

    • Periodic adjustments and exams will continue while the band is in place, every six months for years two and three, and annually after that. This process occurs in the same fashion as the initial adjustment. There is little to no recovery time after these adjustments.

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