Gaining weight after lapband surgery

lapbandmexico · July 20, 2008

Can you gain weight if you have had lapband surgery? I don't see how this would be possible if you have the proper restriction.

marynascar · July 20, 2008

My doctor says the yes people can gain weight after lap band. He said there is a pinhole that some fattening things such as high calorie shakes and ice cream, etc can get through. My question is, if someone goes through the risks of surgery, why sabatoge it with such foolishness?

SanDiegoPhotog · July 20, 2008

Sure you can. Are you talking about long-term or are you talking immediately after surgery?

Immediately after surgery, I was a bit heavier than usual, but that was because I was pumped full of fluids. It came off very easily once I started my post-op diet. It was just kind of weird to have this big ole bloated belly full of gas and "cankles" full of Fluid.

Long-term, though, I've heard of people gaining weight. This is not a malabsorptive procedure . . . so if you eat the wrong foods, you WILL gain weight. Think about it, the point is to get to proper restriction and eat the right foods . . . but even the proper restriction is not going to prevent a milkshake from going down. And we all know how fattening a milkshake can be. People gain weight with the band by "eating around the band." They basically eat the wrong foods, they eat food easy to slip through the band and typically high-calorie, they drink with their meals, and they don't go in regularly for fills.

The band is just there to help make you not hungry. The people that do well with the band are the ones who are willing to put in the work. I hope long-term, I prove to be one of those people.

SanDiegoPhotog · July 20, 2008

My doctor says the yes people can gain weight after lap band. He said there is a pinhole that some fattening things such as high calorie shakes and ice cream, etc can get through. My question is, if someone goes through the risks of surgery, why sabatoge it with such foolishness?

Because MANY people are looking for a quick fix and aren't willing to put in the effort and energy that the band takes. Sadly.