When can I have sex after surgery?

As soon as you feel comfortable! I will say that most of the patients can start having sex within five days after their lap-band procedure. There are no specific guidelines saying when you can resume your sexual activity. Despite the fact that the lap-band procedure is considered a minimally invasive procedure it is still considered a surgery. With this in mind, you should always listen to your body and give yourself time to recover. Definitely you need to watch yourself with heavy lifting, and within the first days after lap-band procedure you may feel sore on the side where the port is. Nevertheless, if you’re up to some action, go for it!

Does your sex drive increases after a lap-band procedure?

It’s not that appetite for sex increases from the lap-band itself, but definitely as you lose weight you gain more self-confidence. The more comfortable you feel with your own body the higher your libido gets. In men, considerable weight loss contributes to the increase in the levels of testosterone, which results in a better sexual life. Since in women, sex drive is less dependent on hormonal levels, the increased libido is more ascribed to the improved body image than to the chemical balance. One of the lap-band forums did a poll to assess whether their sex drive increased after getting a lap-band. Needless to say, 72% of responders said that their libido increased, out of which 42% indicated significant jump in their appetite for sex.

Is sex after weight loss surgery better than before?

There are different opinions about this one. Many say that after losing much of their weight, they’re more fit and can do more in the bedroom. Not only can they try new positions that they wouldn’t think of before, but they can have sex longer – no more shortness of breath or simply getting tired after five minutes. According to bandsters from online forums, sex without “extra padding” became more personal and more sensual. The downside of losing extra fluff very fast is the loose skin. Many patients say that despite feeling very attractive with their clothes on, the leftover skin is not letting them fully enjoy their sexual lives. This problem pertains more so to gastric bypass patients who lose weight very fast after surgery, leading to excess skin.

I must say that we, at DayOne Health, don’t have many lap-band patients experiencing the loose skin problem. Lap-band procedure allows you to lose weight slower and in a healthier manner. This in return gives your skin time to retract, and your body to adjust to your new weight. In fact, exercising after lap-band helps skin retract and build muscles which often decreases the amount or severity of sagging skin. I know that “slower” is not the adjective you guys are looking for, but believe me that in this particular case more stable weight loss will guarantee long term results as well as the most optimal effect.

If you have any questions concerning the subject of this blog, or you would like to hear more about the lap-band procedure call our Chicago clinic at 312.291.7501. To schedule your one-on-one consultation with a surgeon click here.

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Most insurances are now offering coverage for the Lap-Band surgery.

At one time it was considered more of an elective surgery; however more and more insurances are now treating Lap-Band surgery as a “medical necessity.”

When working with your insurance they will require proof of medical necessity. What this means is that they have set up a criteria that outlines what would make surgery medically necessary for you.

In order for Lap-Band to be considered medically necessary, most insurances require that you have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or greater. They may still consider you for surgery with a body mass index of 35-39, but you would have to prove that you have at least two co-morbidities.

Your body mass index in measured by factoring your height against your weight. You can check your BMI using our BMI calculator.

What are co-morbidities?

Co-morbidities are diseases tied directly to the patient’s obesity such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, coronary issues, and pulmonary issues to name some. You will notice these diseases can be considered “life threatening.”

Nearly 96% of the insurances that I have worked with require that the patient complete a “medically supervised diet”. The length of the diet depends on the insurance company, but it can be anywhere from 3-6 months in duration.

One of the most common questions that I am asked in regards to this diet is “what if I lose a lot of weight during this required diet”? In answer to this question; insurance companies will factor in your weight taken at your initial consultation. This is the actual documentation that will be submitted to your insurance company for review.

Another thing to consider is this: if you could lose enough weight to no longer be considered at least obese if not morbidly obese in three to six months, you probably would not be considering the Lap-Band surgery. I have yet to see a patient fall off of the “insurance measure” of medically necessary on the required medically supervised diets.

Ninety-nine percent of the insurances I have worked with also require a psychological evaluation and clearance as well.

Some insurance require 3-5 years of documented weight history from a physician.
You can obtain these records by requesting progress notes from your primary care physician or in the case of female patients your gynecologist as either of these should have taken your vital signs which include weight.
Keep in mind if you are trying to use records from you OB/GYN you can not use records that note your weight during pregnancy.

A good way to begin the process of finding out whether or not your insurance covers the Lap Band Surgery is to call the customer service phone number listed on the back of your medical insurance card and ask the representative if you have coverage for “the surgical treatment of morbid obesity”. They will tell you if it is a complete exclusion on your policy or if you have coverage after providing proof of medical necessity.

Once you know that you have coverage just call us here at DayOne Health and set up your initial consultation. You can also request a one-on-one consultation through our website. If you would like to hear more information about insurance coverage of the Lap-Band procedure, call me at 312-255-1900.

Call us today. This could be DayOne of a healthier you. We are waiting to hear from you.

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Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disease characterized by high blood sugar levels caused by resistance to insulin or a low production of insulin. Statistics show that type 2 diabetes and obesity are the two most globally prevalent health problems . Latest research confirms that not only obesity, but also type 2 diabetes can be resolved with a weight loss procedure.

Many studies show pronounced improvement in type 2 diabetes among patients who underwent a lap-band surgery. According to the study conducted by Ponce et al, in the sample of 840 patients, one year after lap-band surgery, type 2 diabetes was resolved in 66%, and 2 years after in 88% of the cases 3. Patients in the study not only resolved their diabetes, but they also lost more weight in comparison to the group that didn’t undergo the surgery. In addition to the health improvement, other studies show overall decrease in healthcare costs for patients three years post surgery2. Researchers point out that the decrease in costs was even as high as 70% compared to one or two years prior to the lap-band surgery. The weight loss procedure allowed for elimination of diabetes medication therapy in 74% of patients within six months after surgery. After two years, this number increased to 84%2.

Finally, the economic evaluation of treatment options for managing type 2 diabetes showed that lap-band surgery may be the cheapest solution. Published results strongly correlate with the observations made at our DayOne Health Chicago clinic. Namely, many of DayOne Health patients start their weight loss journey with many health complications which get resolved soon after the lap-band surgery. Besides lost pounds, patients soon notice complete resolution of their reflux and considerable improvement of their hypertension. As you can see, lap-band may help you not only shed pounds, but improve your overall health. If you, or your loved one, suffer from the type 2 diabetes, lap-band may be exactly what you need.

If you would like to hear more about the lap-band procedure or the health problems it can resolve, register for a seminar, schedule a one-on-one appointment or call our Chicago office today at 312-291-7501.

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The liquid diet is a lot easier than it seems, you just need to prep yourself and get the necessary items prior to starting your liquid diet. You can start to wean yourself off solid foods and onto liquids slowly before the beginning of your 14 day liquid diet. That way your body will adjust better to a full liquid diet by taking it slowly. You will be consuming clear liquids all day long- these clear liquids include things like crystal light, diet Snapple, broth, Jell-O, Italian Ice, Popsicles and unsweetened iced tea. For your three meals during the day, you are able to consume full liquids. These are liquids which will provide you with more calories and protein than the clear liquids. You can consume low fat strained creamed soup, low carb protein drinks, milk and drinkable yogurts. It is very important to make sure you are consuming 64 oz of fluids per day to help you maintain a feeling of fullness. The staff at DayOne Health is always there to help you along the way and provide you with information prior to your surgery.

If you have any questions about the pre-operative liquid diet before LAP-BAND Surgery, please contact our dietitian at nutrition@dayonehealth.com. If you have any questions about the LAP-BAND surgery itself or would like to schedule an initial consultation at our Chicago office, please visit our website or contact our office to speak to our patient advocate Gladys at 312-291-7501.

Did you know that your favorite drink may contain the same number of calories as an average size chocolate bar? If you decide one evening to sip on your favorite appletini, be prepared that it may cost you up to 300 calories! Yep, 300 calories in 6 ounces of apple goodness. Let’s face it. Alcoholic drinks are calorie bombs, and if you are a lap-band patient, best stay away!

Counting your calories and watching what you eat teaches you the right habits allowing you to get the most of your band. On average, a lap-banders’ diet should consist of 1200 calories per day, so planning your meals is a very important part of your lap-band journey. If you take into consideration that one beer has about 120 calories (12oz), drinking three beers would mean that you just wasted one full meal! Imagine that two scrambled eggs, with two strips of turkey bacon, toast, and a coffee, equal exactly 360 calories. But the worst part of it is that three beers won’t make you full. In other words, beer will go straight through the band and leave you looking for snacks. As a result, you will end up with an empty stomach and an extra 300 calories added to your daily count.

If you think that 300 calories is still not much, imagine that 8oz Long Island Tea can even contain 800 calories! Crazy isn’t it? Another candidate for the most caloric drink would be Margarita, 811 calories in 12oz. So now imagine that the most basic burrito with chicken is around 700 calories. I don’t know how about you, but I would rather have a burrito. Especially when, as a bandster, I wouldn’t be able to eat the whole thing anyway, so my actual count would be 350 calories. Keeping your hunger and your calorie intake in check are the two most important components of losing weight after weight loss surgery. Lap-band blocks the hunger, but doing the math is still up to you.

For the lap-band beginners, DayOne Health’s advice would be to stay away from alcohol drinks for a while. It just doesn’t seem right to have a drink instead of a meal. Counting your calories the whole day just to end up with over two thousand because of an after-work margarita, doesn’t make much sense either. If you need some advice on how to eat right and get the most out of your 1200 calorie diet, you should definitely meet with a dietitian. At DayOne Health, nutritional consults are a crucial part of the lap-band weight loss program. We always make sure that all our patients are well informed and prepared to take full advantage of their lap-band surgery. If you feel you have any questions concerning your diet, or you think you would like to improve your eating habits, don’t hesitate to call us and see our dietitian. To hear more about the lap-band diet and book an appointment with Lauren please call 312-255-1900.

On Saturday, July 24th, NBC is having a casting for 11th season of The Biggest Loser in Chicago. Organizers are expecting to see at least 500 applicants, so if you’re planning to take part in the event, be there early. The auditions are going to start at 10 A.M. and end at 6 P.M. If you have a lot of weight to lose and don’t mind winning a quarter million dollars, come and join us at NBC Towers in Chicago!

Yeah, the DayOne Health team will be there. Not only to cheer the applicants, but also to give away free cold water. Forecasts say it’s going to be 90 degrees, so prepare yourself to fight the heat. For us, The Biggest Loser is not only a chance to hang out in the fresh air, but also to talk about the lap-band surgery. For the past two weeks we’ve been preparing for this event and now we are ready to join the crowds. Since NBC is choosing only five finalists, we decided to show the other 495 contestants that even if they don’t become the Biggest Loser, they shouldn’t give up on losing weight. Also, for all of those who are not ready to go into weight loss boot camp, the lap-band may be a great solution. Maybe getting a lap-band doesn’t seem as appealing and spectacular as shedding pounds on NBC, but after all, the lap-band equally if not more effective. We won’t promise that you will lose 60 pounds in 4 months, but we are pretty sure that with the right attitude you can easily lose 60 pounds or more in a year. Pretty good deal, isn’t it?

Besides cold water and tons of positive energy, we decided that this special occasion requires something more. We were thinking about another way we could help, and we came up with an idea of a contest. The Lap-Band Give-Away Contest, to be more specific. The rules are very easy. Everyone who wants to win a free lap-band simply has to write an essay specifying why they should be chosen to get the band. If you would like to participate, please write to us about yourself in up to 500 words and paste it into the special box on our sign up page. Right after your submission, our patient advocate will contact you and give some more details about the contest as well as the lap-band surgery. You can submit your applications and essays from July 23rd to October 31st. If you are taking part in the Biggest Loser casting tomorrow, we wish you the best and good luck.

We would really love to hear your story, so don’t hesitate and enter to win a FREE Lap-Band!

Is it possible that you won’t lose weight after having a LAP-BAND surgery? If you cheat, of course! Don’t get me wrong, everyone cheats a little, eats unhealthy or too much. Weight loss surgery is not an easy decision, but changing your lifestyle after the surgery is not an easy task either. At DayOne Health we understand that very well. And it’s not only our experience with patients, but also the fact that a few members of our team have had the LAP-BAND themselves.

Don’t feel guilty because you’re craving ice-cream or chips. Like I said, everyone does. It won’t harm you to eat reasonable amounts of your favorite foods from time to time. But remember that you have to stay in control. Don’t let the portion size dictate your appetite! How many times you have felt full, but kept eating because there was still food on your plate? If you’re like me, far too many. You probably know this already, but forcing more food into your stomach than you need defeats the purpose of the band. In other words, the LAP-BAND is doing its job by giving you the feeling of satiety; the person who isn’t doing their job is you by not listening to our own body. Cheating by overeating is not only bad for your BMI, but may be very harmful for your health. Band slippage or band erosion is not what you want to experience and can come from over eating too often. If you have to cheat, please, do not do it this way.

After surgery, you will soon notice that some foods pass through the band easier than others. While it may be limiting in some cases, it will also give you plenty opportunitiesto cheat. The LAP-BAND won’t rescue you from the calories in milkshakes or mashed potatoes, nor will it make you feel full after an extra large mocha with chocolate and whipped cream. After having the weight loss surgery you will still be able to eat ice-cream, chocolate, pudding, chips, and other high calorie foods. This is why LAP-BAND surgery is not only a weight loss surgery; it’s a lifestyle! This is one of the many reasons DayOne Health created a whole program dedicated to following up on our patients. From time to time, we have patients that can’t lose weight after surgery. Their first reaction is that LAP-BAND didn’t work, but once we ask what the person is eating, the mystery is solved!

Of course, you also have to be honest with us and yourself. We guarantee that once you honestly tell us what you are eating, and let us work on your eating habits you will see instant results.

The DayOne Health weight loss program was created to help patients get the most out of their bands. A LAP-BAND is not magic, and the secret ingredient to your success is you! We are here to support you all the way in the process, and tailor a diet to your lifestyle. We understand cheating on the band better than anyone else, and we can help you deal with it in a proper way. If you feel you are losing control over your eating, don’t wait. Stop postponing your success, and contact our nutritionist. Let us help you do some damage control and call today 312-291-7501.

As I mentioned in my earlier posts, the most important part of the lap-band journey are your follow up visits. Simply speaking, no adjustments mean no weight loss. For the best results, you should get the first adjustment four to six weeks after your surgery, and then at least every two months during the first year. Remember, your success after the procedure depends fully on setting your band right and eating balanced diet.

One of the most common myths about the lap-band is a belief that the tighter the band the better. Some patients insist on tightening their bands to the point that they can’t even drink water! So wrong… On so many levels…

First of all, it’s unhealthy. Getting your band too tight may not only make you feel bad, but it makes impossible to eat. And you know better than that, right? The lap-band should be a tool to control your hunger, not something that causes you to throw up with every meal. Vomiting is not normal and shouldn’t be a part of your lap-band experience. To all DayOne Health Chicago patients: As soon as you start to feel discomfort, tell us! Don’t wait a whole week, and then call us on Friday afternoon when we can’t do anything more then send you to the ER, or ask you to wait until Monday. Many patients don’t admit that they are too tight in time and wait until their stomach pushes them to the limit. Tightness and nausea won’t go away, and the band definitely won’t loosen up by itself. Call us and schedule an appointment with your doctor, so we could help you right away!

While a well adjusted lap-band gives you early and long satiety, a band that is too tight causes difficulty swallowing, reflux, and possible night cough. On top of everything, you may think that a very tight band would make you lose weight faster, right? Sorry, but it won’t. Because the entrance to your stomach is very small, it doesn’t let much solid food to go through. Suddenly, you catch yourself living on milkshakes, mash potatoes, gravy, ice cream, and chips. As you may imagine that is not the best way to lose weight. No wonder that despite being so tight that you can barely get through the day, you are still gaining weight!

Our advice for you is to leave yourself some room. An optimally adjusted band is the best and the safest way to lose weight. You have to remember that lap-band is a tool that should help you make right food choices. A band that is too loose or too tight won’t do the trick. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call us. DayOne Health was created to help lap-band patients lose weight effectively and in a healthy manner. So please, let us do our job, and help you achieve the weight of your dreams.

If you aren’t a lapbander yet, and you’re looking for the information regarding weight loss surgery, call our Chicago office today 312-291-7501 or register for a free seminar! Everyday can be the first day of your new life! Let us help you in your struggle, and lose weight once and for all. If you would like to talk to the doctor, simply schedule a one-on-one consultation with a surgeon.

You hear a lot about the medical tourism these days. Since DayOne Health is a bariatric clinic we get many questions about getting a LAP-BAND in Mexico. When we ask our patients why they would even considered doing it, they say that it’s the price.  For many who don’t have insurance coverage or who have BMI below 35, self-pay is the option.  Imagine you have a choice between paying $5,000 or $13,000, which would you choose?

Don’t answer this question yet! There may be more to it than it seems…

Remember, if it’s too good to be true, it probably is!  Prices for LAP-BAND surgery in Mexico can actually range from $4,500 to $15,000 depending on the surgeon and facility.  Considering that you would want to be safe and undergo your surgery without complications, you would need to look for an experienced surgeon.  Experienced surgeons in Mexico will charge between $9,000 and $11,000.  Once you reach the $9,000 range you’re basically the same as you would pay in the U.S. plus the travel costs!

Remember that the background check on the facility is as important as on your surgeon. You need to make sure that the staff speaks English and is able to provide you with necessary care in the event of any complications. If you decide to have weight loss surgery in a hospital, make sure that it has an intensive care unit that can handle a bariatric patient. Both your surgeon and facility should meet or exceed American standards. Never compromise your health to save a couple bucks!

Besides phone calls with questions, we at DayOne Health have extensive experience with patients from Mexico. Remember that the LAP-BAND surgery is just the beginning of the journey. Follow-up appointments and band fills are what determine weight loss. In other words, when you decide to get a band abroad, it is a good idea to first find a local clinic that will do your adjustments once you’re back home. I must warn you though… some places charge more for LAP-BAND adjustments when the bands placed abroad. The reason for higher pricing is related to complications arising more often among patients banded in Mexico.

Band erosions, slippages, flipped ports… we’ve seen it all!

After adding travel costs, hospital costs, expensive band fills and a fair amount stress, it seems better to consider surgery in the U.S. Here, you can be sure that your doctor meets all standards and will guide you through your weight loss journey. If you are considering having your LAP-BAND surgery done in Mexico, contact us first. Maybe we can help you find a better, safer solution. Call the patient advocate at DayOne Health in Chicago at 312.291.7501 to talk about the cost of LAP-BAND surgery today!

Dining Out

Do you have days that you just don’t feel like cooking and want to eat out instead? Well, for me “these days” are almost everyday. Eating out is fun and convenient; no mess, no standing in a kitchen, eating whatever you feel like and as much as you want. The last one may be a problem, especially if like me, you feel like eating well and a lot. Chicago gave me many opportunities to indulge in my favorite dining. Nevertheless, you can imagine what the “anything I want” diet did to my waist. Restaurants never hesitated to provide me with a dollar pricing next to the food, but never specified how much it would cost me in inches. Before I got my Lap-Band, I tried to do some damage control, and I must say that small changes helped me to minimize, and when I was fully compliant, even stopped gaining. Nevertheless, in the end eating less was what finally allowed me to lose weight.

If you are trying to bring some damage control into your restaurant ventures you could use some of my before weight loss surgery tricks. My first advice would be to order water instead of soda. It may seem as a small step, but by doing so you cut your calorie intake by over 100 calories. Believe me, if you are planning to take a refill of that coke better drink some water instead. The next thing that you could consider is eating an appetizer instead the whole meal. Come on… You can’t eat the whole thing anyway! How many times did you end up overeating only because there was still food on your plate? I always hated myself for doing so, and believe me, these few extra calories didn’t do any good for me either! On the other hand you may say that the appetizer portion is too small for you… Trust me, with a side salad to it you should be more than satisfied. If you’re not, it may mean that your stomach is stretched and you don’t feel satiety when you’re full. In this case, believe me I know this from experience, you end up ordering dessert after a medium size meal with the amount of calories outnumbering the regular meal. My advice here would be to resign from restaurant desserts all together. It may not be easy when you have this “oooh… I would eat something” mode, and especially if your stomach is the size of a Santa’s bag like mine was…

I must say that eating less was never easy for me, so when my BMI jumped to 40 I finally decided to get the lap-band in Chicago. I knew I needed help, or at least a tool to curb my hunger. I tried everything including stuffing myself with stomach filling pills, but nothing seemed to work. Weight loss surgery might seem as a drastic move for someone who just wants to eat out; nevertheless, I knew that without it would keep gaining pounds infinitely. I knew that I needed help, and DayOne Health, because of its amazing program and friendly staff, was my first choice. Today, I lost most of my weight and I keep it off! I’m happier than ever because finally I don’t have to make myself to stop eating. Now, my body tells me when I’m full and the lap-band helps me to comply with my resolutions. I know that without DayOne Health in Chicago my weight loss wouldn’t be possible, and that after surgery I can enjoy Chicago’s finest restaurants without gaining weight! If you fell like you have the same problem, call them today to schedule an appointment or sign up for a free seminar and see whether weight loss surgery is right for you!

Gladys