Adjustments or fills to the gastric band are painless and take just a few minutes to perform. Some people are actually able to make it to their goal weight with no adjustments but they far and few. Most patients require 3 to 5 adjustments before they are losing weight at an expected pace. So again don’t worry if you require 6 adjustments to get it right. Gastric banding is unique for this reason that we can adjust the band to our requirements against other surgeries wheres there is no option.

How are the adjustments performed?
The area on top of the port is cleaned with betadine and then lidocaine is injected into the skin using a small needle to numb the skin. After this a larger needle is then placed through the skin and into the port. Fluid is then injected into the port at amounts decided on by the surgeon.

How Do I Know If I Need An Adjustment?
You will know if your weight loss is not averaging 1-2 pounds a week. We all want immediate results now but gastric banding doesn’t work in this way. Graph out your weight loss so you can actually chart your weight on a weekly basis, but don’t weigh yourself more than once a week. Remember they are just numbers, guidelines of how you are doing but not definitive of success.

Rules for Adjustments
No matter how much fluid you have in your band there are only three kinds of fills, too little, too much and just right, the actual number of cc’s is totally irrelevant.

If you are following the rules stated below and still are feeling very hungry or not losing weight, perhaps it is time to consult your surgeon for an adjustment.

Are you drinking a minimum of 2 liters of water per day?
Actually the recommendation is to take your body weight, divide in half and that is how many ounces of water you need to drink per day to keep your cells flushed and everything in working order.  Please remember to stop drinking liquids 30 minutes prior to a meal and no drinking during the meal as you will wash food though the gastric band and end up eating more than you should.

Are you engaging in some type of exercise or physical activity on a daily basis?
Raking your yard, walking your dog, weeding the garden all count as do walking to shops nstead of driving.  Swimming is also a great form of physical activity for those with joint problems, and it is something one can do with children or families. Exercise after gastric surgery is important and is cumulative and it all adds up so every little bit counts!

Are you eating 60 grams of protein per day?
60 grams is not so much really, thats approx 3 ounces servings each meal what works out to be around 21 grams of chicken. Protein is an essential building block for tissues and cells and protein helps turn off hunger and carbohydrates seem to turn it on. Try fitday they will help you track your diet. You may want look at healthy eating after gastric banding surgery.

Now you have greater understanding on Adjusting your Gastric Banding.

Vegetables and fruits that contain stringy fibres are particularly problematic.

• Asparagus – cut up very small or blend into soup
• Broccoli – the stalks may be problematic
• Dried fruits – will swell inside you and should be avoided
• Pineapple – juice is ok, fruit may be difficult to digest
• Rhubarb – cut up very small or puree
• Oranges – juice ok, flesh may be problematic
• Meat – needs to chopped very small and chewed thoroughly

Some food are sticky and difficult to digest such as coconut, crisps and soft white bread. Nuts (such as peanuts, almonds, walnuts) and popcorn may also cause obstruction unless they are well chewed to a paste, and are probably best avoided for this reason.

For the best diet results after your Gastric Banding Surgery you should limit the following foods where possible:

• High calorie drinks (full milk, milkshakes, alcohol, fruit squashes, juice
• Fats and fatty foods – butter, oils, snacks foods (crisps, peanuts), chips
• Creamy soups
• Cakes, biscuits and desserts
• Cereals with added sugar

From time to time you will get food stuck in your stomach which can be quite uncomfortable especially if you have not followed your eating plan. Firstly don’t panic as it should dislodge again on its own. To help the food on , try taking tiny sips of hot drink over an hour and some people recommend coke as the gas and bubble encourage you stomach to digest.

If 24hrs has gone by and you still have something stuck and nothing else is going down (or its coming straight back up) you need to attend your hospital for a temporary de-fill of your gastric band to ease the problem.

• You are aged 18 or over.
• You have tried all conventional methods of weight loss, like exercise and diet, but have failed to lose any significant amount of weight.
• You don’t have any medical or psychological reasons for not carrying out the procedure.
• You understand the long-term commitment to having a gastric band fitted, for example you continue to reduce your food intake and maintain a regular exercise regime.

Funding for the cost of the operation for gastric banding will vary across the UK and will depend on your local PCT. PCTs can only set aside an amount of money for this type of gastric banding surgery. If you are recommended for surgery, as a treatment for obesity. Typically gastric banding usually costs around £7,000 if you do it privately.

If you feel you qualify for gastric banding in the UK and would like to have the operation on the NHS, as all your attempts you have used to lose weight have failed you will need to discuss all possible options with your GP or surgeon.