How to Reverse Lap Band Surgery

Though the Lap Band procedure is effective for many patients, it requires substantial changes to your lifestyle for it to be as effective as possible. In addition to affecting the size of meals that you can eat, it can also restrict the type of foods that you are able to eat without experiencing discomfort. If you find that you are unable to adhere to the lifestyle required by Lap Band surgery, you can visit your doctor to have her reverse the procedure.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

See Your Doctor to Reverse Your Lap Band Surgery

1. Allow sufficient time to adjust to the requirements of having the Lap Band in place. This will provide you with the opportunity to gauge if you will be able to adapt to the diet and lifestyle.
2. Join a community support group with others who have had a Lap Band installed to understand what to expect after having the Lap Band removed. You may find the support you need to continue with the Lap Band, or you may gain the courage to seek its reversal.
3. Discuss your desire to reverse the Lap Band procedure with your surgeon. The problems that you are experiencing may be treatable by adjusting the Lap Band rather than reversing the procedure.
4. Schedule an appointment with your surgeon to remove the Lap Band. The procedure to remove the Lap Band does not take a long time and you will likely be able to return home immediately afterward.
5. Contact your insurance provider to ensure that all the required paperwork has been processed. This will ensure that you will only pay the amount for which you are responsible, rather than waiting for your insurance provider to reimburse you.
6. Bring someone with you to the doctor's office when you go to have the Lap Band removed. You may not be comfortable enough to drive following surgery.

Tips & Warnings

• Following Lap Band surgery, your doctor may need to adjust the band several times before you are comfortable.
• The Lap Band can be adjusted by injecting or removing saline through the access port. This is an out-patient procedure.
• It is not just a patient's inability to adapt to lifestyle changes that may require a surgeon to remove the Lap Band. Slippage or erosion of the Lap Band can occur and necessitate reversal of the surgery.
• Examine the bill from your Lap Band surgeon to ensure that your insurance provider has paid the proper amount. Failure to pay your hospital bills can adversely affect your credit rating and incur large finance charges.