“I can truly say that Dr. Kuri and his amazing staff saved my life…”
The Lap Band is meant to provide long-term weight loss through a permanent reduction in your capacity to eat large portions. You will feel comfortably full with a small amount of food. Laparoscopic placement of an adjustable gastric band around the stomach creates a small upper pouch in which food is funneled slowly through a narrowed passage into the large lower portion of the stomach where digestion takes place in a normal fashion. Due to the slower emptying of your pouch, you will continue to feel full longer, which reduces the urge to eat between scheduled meals and snacks.
No matter how many food plans you try, healthy or unhealthy, there are some fundamental things you must know in order to be successful in a weight loss program that, believe it or not, have nothing to do with food.
1. Readiness- Are you ready to make change in your life right now?
In order to have true lifelong weight loss experience, you have to commit to trading your old habits in for a new healthier lifestyle. This has more to do with readiness for change than a desire to shed pounds — there is a big difference.
2. Developing a Vision
It is crucial to have another more heart-felt reason to lose weight other than losing pounds and appearance. This is because when times are tough — and they will be during any change process — you will need an internal reason to lose the weight to keep you motivated.
3. Be Prepared For Change
All weight loss requires us to change a habit yet no one warns us about the process of change. The first thing to know is that the beginning of change is difficult and uncomfortable. This is because it forces us to switch off the autopilot and focus on our new behaviors. Luckily it takes about 21 days to make a new habit and the uncomfortable part goes away and our new habits become autopilot.
In addition to those lifestyle changes, success with the band requires you to follow all of the recovery diet orders, and follow all 10 of the Lap Band rules. Personal responsibility includes:
- Following up with fills when necessary;
- Listening to your body;
- Using the band as a tool in your overall plan;
- Making better food choices and implementing a healthier lifestyle that includes daily activity;
- Being a self advocate for what you may need during the post-surgery period;
- Asking for support when you need it. We are here to help you with any need you may have.
Simply put, the Lap Band is not a magic wand but rather a valuable tool that when used with a modified healthy diet, regular physical activity, and healthy lifestyle, can lead to many years of permanent weight loss.
Yes, You will need a valid passport to travel to and from Mexico for surgery.
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: For the latest entry requirements, visit the Embassy of Mexico’s website or contact the Embassy of Mexico at 1911 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006, telephone (202) 736-1600, or any Mexican consulate in the United States.
Since March 1, 2010, all U.S. citizens – including children – have been required to present a valid passport or passport card for travel beyond the “border zone” into the interior of Mexico. The “border zone” is generally defined as an area within 20 to 30 kilometers of the border with the U.S., depending on the location. Regardless of the destination in Mexico; however, all U.S. citizens age 16 or older must present a valid U.S. passport book or passport card to re-enter the U.S. by land. A passport book is required to return to the United States via an international flight.
All U.S. citizens traveling outside of the United States by air, land or sea (except closed-loop cruises) are required to present a Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) compliant document such as a passport book or a passport card to return to the United States. Legal permanent residents in possession of their I-551 Permanent Resident card may board flights to the United States from Mexico. Travelers with passports that are found to be washed, mutilated or damaged may be refused entry to Mexico and returned to the United States. While passport cards and enhanced driver’s licenses are sufficient for re-entry into the United States by land or sea, they may not be accepted by the particular country you plan to visit; please be sure to check with your cruise line and countries of destination for any foreign entry requirements.
The U.S. passport card has been in full production since July 2008. Beginning March 1, 2010, Mexican Immigration began to accept the passport card for entry into Mexico by air; however, the card may not be used to board international flights in the U.S. or to return to the U.S. from abroad by air. The card is available only to U.S. citizens. Further information on the Passport Card can be found on our website. We strongly encourage all U.S. citizen travelers to apply for a U.S. passport well in advance of anticipated travel. U.S. citizens can visit the Bureau of Consular Affairs website or call 1-877-4USA-PPT(1-877-487-2778) for information on how to apply for their passports.
As of May 1, 2010, non-U.S. citizens with valid U.S. visas may enter Mexico with the U.S. visa, and do not have to obtain a Mexican visa.
The surgery itself takes 25 minutes. Including the anesthesiologist’s time, the lap band procedure lasts about an hour. In most cases, you will be up and walking about 5-6 hours after.
The surgical procedure is minimally invasive—described as a “keyhole” surgery—with minimal pain. You will be given pain medication for any discomfort you may experience.
When a patient arrives at Hospital Angeles for surgery, there are a few steps they will go through in the check in process. These steps involve: preoperative tests (labs, EKG, med history, and Physical), a meeting with Dr. Kuri to discuss any questions or concerns, registration into the hospital, and settling into private suites. We understand that the patient has been fasting and will do our best to get the labs drawn as quickly as possible. We recommend that the patient packs a quick snack to tide them over once this is done. Please be patient as the process can change in order, but nonetheless, all steps will be taken.
