Weight Loss Surgery with the Adjustable Gastric Band: Everything You Need to Know Before and After Surgery to Lose Weight Successfully »

Robert W. Sewell, M.D., F.A.C.S., is an award-winning laparoscopic surgeon and is the current president of the American Society of General Surgeons. He has taught laparoscopic techniques all over the world, and he has treated more than 300 AGB patients. Dr. Sewell lives and practices outside Dallas, Texas. Linda Rohrbough is a best-selling author thrice honored by the Computer Press Association for her writing about the computer industry. A patient of Dr. Sewell’s, she has lost 136 pounds since receiving a Lap-band in 2004. She lives outside Raleigh, North Carolina.

The essential guide to help you commit to a healthy regime and affect the lifestyle changes to lose weight and manage your hunger-for the rest of your life

Preface     ix
Introduction-How We Got Here     xi
Obesity in Our Culture     1
Obesity-The Great American Health Problem     3
Why Dieting and Exercise Don't Work     11
Causes and Treatments of Obesity     19
How the Digestive System Functions     21
The Digestive System     22
Summary     28
Bariatric Surgery-Past and Present     29
Obesity as a Disease     30
Drugs Used to Treat Obesity     31
Surgical Treatments     32
The Problem with Any Surgical "Solution"     43
The Adjustable Gastric Band (AGB) is not Gastric Bypass     45
How the AGB Functions     47
Overview of the AGB's Function     47
Is the Adjustable Gastric Band Really Bariatric Surgery?     56
Using the AGB as a Behavior Modification Tool     58
Summary     59
Who Is a Candidate for the AGB?     61
Coming to a Crossroads-Treating Obesity as a Disease     61
The Initial Evaluation     64
The Surgical Assessment     65
Potential Road Blocks     66
The Psychological Assessment     71
The Dietitian'sAssessment     75
The Exercise Physiologist's Assessment     77
Conclusion     81
What Does a Comprehensive AGB Program Look Like?     83
Do I Really Need a Weight Management Program?     84
Nutritional Support     88
An Exercise Program     90
Changing How You Think     91
Summary of a Comprehensive Program     94
Medical Management of the AGB     95
What to Expect before Surgery     97
Pre-op Testing     97
The Pre-op Diet     99
Just before Surgery     102
The Day of Surgery     106
Anesthesia     110
What to Expect after Surgery     113
Immediately after Surger     113
The Hospital Stay     115
Going Home     120
Medication Needs     122
Returning to Normal Activity     124
Conclusion     127
Adjustments (Fills) and Eating Strategies     129
The First Few Weeks Post-op     129
Ten Rules for Eating with the Adjustable Gastric Band     131
How Adjustments (or Fills) Are Accomplished     131
How Much Fill Do You Need?      134
Can You Lose Your "Sweet Spot"?     137
Eating Strategies     138
Choosing Foods for Success     143
Taking in Fluids     147
Conclusion     149
The Health Benefits of the AGB and Weight Loss     151
Factors That Influence the Improvement of Your Health     151
Improvement in Diabetes     152
Improvement in Hypertension (The Silent Killer)     157
Improvement in Sleep Apnea (The Thief in the Night)     159
Improvement in the Painful Load     161
Improvement in Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)     165
Obesity Is Misunderstood     167
Managing Potential Complications     169
Introduction     169
Intraoperative Complications     170
Postoperative Complications     171
Problems following an Adjustment (Fill)     172
Problems with the Port     173
Delayed Problems with the Band     174
Options If the Band Slips     177
Band Erosion     178
Band Intolerance     181
Poor Weight-loss Results     183
Living with the AGB     185
The Emotional and Social Time Line     187
Your Psycho-Social Environment     191
Re-establishing Your Circle of Friends     193
Give Yourself Support     196
Change Your Daily Activities     198
The Lifestyle Change     199
Transformation of Habits     202
Getting Your Body in Motion     203
What's for Dinner?     207
Eating Out     210
Obesity Is Expensive; Thinner Is Cheaper     215
Your Image     217
Skin Care following Weight-Loss Surgery     221
What Is Skin and What Does It Do?     222
The Effect of Obesity on Your Skin     224
The Effect of Weight Loss on Your Skin     226
Minimizing the Damage     230
Skin-care Products     231
Plastic Surgery following Weight Loss     233
Choosing a Plastic Surgeon     234
When Should I Start Plastic Surgery?     235
Be Prepared for Scars     236
What to Lift and What to Leave     236
The Procedures     237
Minimizing the Scars     243
Liposuction     244
Surgical Risks     245
Recovery     246
Medical Necessity and Insurance      246
Conclusion     247
Living with Someone Who Has an AGB     249
Family Stress     250
Providing Support as a Spouse     251
The Enabler     254
The Band Couple     256
The Physical Changes     258
Conclusion     260
Resources     261
Body Mass Index (BMI) Information     262
Glossary     265
Acknowledgments     281
Index     283