Receiving Fills After Surgery

A pioneer of the Lap-Band System in Latin America, has performed over 5,000 procedures in the last 11 years as a respected specialist in his field. Having one of the warmest bedside manners of any surgeon, Dr. Kuri is widely known for the loving care he provides his patients. He believes in the Lap Band procedure, in his patients, and is dedicated to their success.

The Lap Band System is a silicone ring designed to create a new smaller stomach pouch that can hold less food while maintaining a sense of fullness. The band controls the stoma (stomach outlet) between the new upper pouch and the lower part of the stomach, regulating the flow of the food. The lap band surgeon can change the stoma size by adding or subtracting saline inside the inner balloon through the access port. This adjustment process, known as a lap band fill, helps drive the rate of weight loss. * Results may vary.

There should be NO food in the upper pouch when a patient arrives for their lap band fill. It is suggested that only liquids be ingested on the day of the fill procedure to flush the stoma and ensure that there is no food remaining in the pouch.

Lap Band fills are performed at our facility along with a fluoroscopy. This test allows the surgeon to see the band placement and stomach before and after administering the fill, to ensure that the fill amount is sufficient to provide the restriction level required for continued weight loss. * Results may vary. The procedure takes no more than 15 minutes on average and is relatively painless.

Following the Lap Band System placement procedure, the band is usually left empty or only partially inflated. This enables the patient to get acquainted with their band, adjust to life after bariatric surgery, and allows healing to occur around the new band site. Adjustments are not usually performed until 6 to 8 weeks after surgery, although the exact time will vary from patient to patient. To determine this, Dr. Kuri will consider current weight loss, the amount of food the patient can comfortably eat, their lifestyle adjustments, as well as the amount of fluid currently in the band.

It is important to remember that some time prior to your first, second or third fill, you may not feel any restriction to eating at all. This is quite normal. You may feel that you can eat anything and everything. Try to focus on a high-protein, low-carb diet during these periods. While it’s rare, there have been a number of cases where patients only need one fill to lose all their excess weight. If everything is working properly and your restriction level is good, you should not require additional visits.

Should you require additional fills, Dr. Kuri offers free Lap Band fills for life for his patients. His caring and consideration is not limited to his own practice; as a leading expert in the field of bariatric surgery, Dr. Kuri has also cared for patients banded by other surgeons. Patient health and security is of the utmost importance to Dr. Kuri. His recommendations regarding Lap Band surgery and subsequent fills are based on his judgment of what is best of the patient.

If you require a fill, please