Eating and Drinking after Lap Band Surgery

After your lap band surgery, you will need a new diet. You should discuss this in detail with your lap band surgeon and/or dietitian. They can help you learn and get used to the changes in lifestyle and eating habits you need to make.

Note: The following information is meant to be an overview. Your lap band surgeon may give you specific instructions just for you. Be sure you know the instructions your lap band doctor wants you to follow.

Important

It is very important to follow the eating and drinking instructions right from the start after the lap band operation. That's because you must allow the new stomach structure to heal completely and in the right position. It may take a month or more for this to happen.

It is important, especially in the early weeks, not to stretch the small stomach pouch above the lap band. Vomiting can do this, so it is important not to vomit. Vomiting can increase the chance of stomach tissue slipping up through the lap band.

The first few days after the lap band operation, you can have an occasional sip of water or suck on an ice cube. You shouldn't drink more than this and you should take only a small amount at a time. Besides water you should also choose liquids that have an adequate number of calories. lb prevent nausea and vomiting, do not drink too much.

The First One to Four Weeks

These drinks and very soft foods are recommended for the first four weeks after the lap band operation:

clear broth or soup (with no vegetables or meat and not creamy)

As time goes on, you will slowly move to solid food based on your lap band surgeon's and/or dietitian's advice. In the first few weeks, you may be able to eat foods that may not be allowed in your diet later because these foods may contain too many calories. It is more important in the first few weeks to let your stomach adjust to the lap band than it is to lose weight. In general you should follow the advice of your dietitian about these foods.

Four to Six Weeks

At this time you may start having slightly thicker, creamier soups. This will help you switch gradually to more solid foods later. Some products like bread, red meat, and rice may still cause you problems. So it is better to eat softer foods that are easier to digest. These might include foods such as moist white meat (chicken, veal) and fish.

Chew all your food well. If you have dentures be sure to cut your food into small pieces and to chew it thoroughly. If you don't follow these precautions, you may have vomiting, stomach irritation, and swelling. You could also have stomach obstruction. If you have problems with solid foods and suffer from nausea or vomiting, go back to the liquid diet you had earlier. Then slowly add soft foods to help you transition to solid foods later. Always ask for advice that is specific to your situation from your lap band doctor or dietitian. Vomiting may increase the incidence of lap band slippage, stomach slippage, or stretching of the small stomach pouch above the band.