A variety of procedures and diets have been developed in an effort to find the single, ultimate weight loss solution. One such procedure that a medical researcher developed is the lap band surgery. With this simple procedure a lap band which stands for laparoscopic gastric band is placed in the upper portion of the stomach. This procedure results in a small pouch which can limit the amount of food a person eats. The lap band is constructed from silicon and is able to be inflated and deflated.

However, if you undergo lap band surgery you can’t continue your old eating habits right away. Immediately after lap band surgery there is actually a specific diet that you need to follow. For some people this can be a disadvantage because of the inconvenience it places on them but others may see it as an advantage.

There are three phases to the lap band diet. The first is the liquid diet phase then the puree phase and lastly the regular diet phase. In the first phase you are only allowed to ingest clear liquid fluids for the first two weeks after surgery. This means food such as broth, clear soup and fruit juices.

The puree phase lasts another two weeks and this is when individuals can start eating high protein food that has to be chopped into tiny pieces. Lastly the regular diet phase starts around the fifth or sixth week and is when individuals can start adding fruits, vegetables, carbohydrates, low fat proteins and other such food. However, you are still not allowed to eat meat, fibers and bread.

The biggest advantage of lap band surgery comes from the procedure itself. It is a simple procedure and you don’t have to be admitted to the hospital. You can even resume all normal activities within a few days of the operation aside from eating. The pain associated with this procedure is minimal especially when compared to other similar surgical procedures like a gastric bypass. With gastric bypass there is also a higher change of infection. This is because with the lap band the contents don’t leak to other parts of the body when the stomach is full like it can do with a gastric bypass.

However, as with any medical procedure a lap band surgery also has some disadvantages to consider. Those with certain medical conditions such as ulcers or GERD can’t undergo lap band surgery. If you are younger than eighteen or over the age of fifty-five then you can’t undergo the surgery either, although some doctors may make exceptions. And as mentioned before some people should not undergo the surgery if the diet restrictions seem too difficult.

For those thinking of undergoing lap band surgery it is best to talk with your medical practitioner first. Your doctor can help you better understand if the lap band surgery is right for you and can recommend other options to help with weight loss before requiring surgical intervention. Often with a proper weight loss plan you won’t need to undergo surgery in order to help with weight loss.