Below you will find answers to some basic questions that our Chicago DayOne Health clinic patients ask during the initial consultation visit with our experienced bariatric surgeons.

Will my stomach look different with a lap-band vs. with a gastric sleeve?

The first and biggest difference between the two weight loss procedures is how the stomach volume is decreased. In the case of a lap-band procedure, you have an inflatable band placed around your stomach creating a small pouch at the top, which becomes your new smaller stomach. Conversely, during the gastric sleeve procedure the surgeon reduces the size of the stomach by removing 60% to 80% of the tissue, leaving only a narrow tube. In other words, while lap-band involves placing of an implant to restrict the amount of food you can eat, gastric sleeve changes your stomach size by cutting off its major part. As a result, gastric sleeve limits your portion size and makes you feel full faster. A lap-band does exactly the same thing without cutting or stapling of your stomach. In addition, the lap-band also slows down your digestion process, making you feel full longer.

How different are diet recommendations for lap-band and gastric sleeve?

Since both procedures involve decreasing the amount of food you can eat but do not influence your food choices as much, in both cases you need to remember to stay away from high fat and high calorie foods. After undergoing either of these two procedures, you should avoid carbonated drinks, snacks, and drinking with meals. You will also need to chew your food thoroughly and always make sure that you incorporate the right amount of protein in your daily meal plan. In general, for the gastric sleeve or the lap-band nutrition plan, your daily recommended calorie intake will be about 1,100 to 1,200 calories. Once you reach your weight loss goal, the recommended amount may change depending on your age, gender, and physical activity.

Will I need any dietary supplements?

Because your stomach will be able to accommodate approximately only 4 ounces of food, either with lap-band or gastric sleeve, it is important that you plan your meals well and make sure they contain everything your body needs. In general it is recommended that a person eats at least 2-3 ounces of protein per meal – which will help you achieve a daily goal of 60-65 grams. Unlike the lap-band, the gastric sleeve alters your digestive tract. That is also why it may cause the malabsorption of the vitamin B12, and therefore you will most likely need to regularly take a vitamin supplement.

What are the possible complications of the two weight loss procedures?

The gastric sleeve is a much more serious surgery than a gastric band procedure, so its complication rates are higher and the degree of complications may be more serious. Moreover, in contrast with the lap-band, gastric sleeve is a permanent and non-adjustable procedure. This means that in the case of major side effects or complications, nothing can be done to reverse it and go back to your old digestive tract.

Immediate surgical risks of the gastric sleeve include infection, blood clots, bleeding and leakage at stomach staple edge. This is also the reason why in the case of gastric sleeve surgery, you will need to stay under observation in the hospital for two or three days. Lap-band surgery, on the other hand, can be performed as an outpatient weight loss surgery, and you can recover in the comfort of your own home the same day. The only complication that may occur immediately after the lap-band procedure is an infection at the incision site.

If you would like to hear more about the differences between the lap-band procedure and gastric sleeve surgery, please contact DayOne Health or schedule your one-on-one consultation with a Chicago bariatric surgeon. If you have some general questions about DayOne Health comprehensive weight loss program and the lap-band procedure, call our patient advocate at 312-239-3838.

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We’re very excited to launch this new medium to share timely and relevant information about our practice, weight loss surgery, nutrition, exercise, support and many other topics just for you: our successful post-op and future patients.

For those of you just getting to know us, DayOne Health is an outpatient weight loss surgery center serving the greater Chicago area. We offer a comprehensive program with state-of-the-art medical facilities, dedicated staff, and some of the most experienced surgeons and professionals in the world! At DayOne Health your bariatric support team consists of patient advocates, dietitians and even psychologists. We offer convenient information sessions and support groups. We staff insurance specialists to help you navigate payment and offer flexible financing solutions.

DayOne is proud to offer a variety of minimally invasive procedures such as adjustable gastric banding (LAP-BAND® and REALIZE® Band), StomaphyX®, and single incision weight loss surgery that can leave you virtually scar-free.

In 2008, DayOne was designated as a Bariatric Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and participated in the FDA trial studying the efficacy of the LAP-BAND procedure in adolescents. We feel these accomplishments demonstrate our commitment to helping patients free themselves from obesity in the safest and more effective way possible.

From the day we meet you, through your post-op journey, we’re eager to see you succeed! The DayOne comprehensive program offers personal support in a caring environment. Many of our staff members are patents themselves. They have a wealth of knowledge and are happy to share.

We hope you continue to check back here and follow along as we provide you with important information for making the decision to have weight loss surgery or for reaching your weight loss goals.