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.