1st Steps for You – Do You Qualify?

Our Mid-Band surgery may be right for you if:

  • are 19 to 65 years of age
  • have a BMI between 35 and 50 (Please use the calculator on the home page to find out what your BMI is)
  • have attempted non-surgical weight loss programs in the past, but with no long-lasting results
  • are committed to a maintaining beneficial eating habits and a healthier life style
  • are able to attend follow-up meetings after surgery for advice and band adjustments
  • do not abuse alcohol or drugs

Our surgery may NOT be the right choice if you:

  • have had previous obesity surgery or hiatus hernia/ulcer surgery
  • suffer from auto-immune disorders such as lupus, scleroderma or Crohn’s disease
  • have a bleeding disorder, liver disease, chronic pancreatitis or kidney failure
  • currently have severe heart or lung disease
  • are pregnant, or wish to plan a pregnancy in the next 2 years
  • have a serious or untreated psychiatric illness, psychological problem, or addictions

The first step in making the decision to have Laparoscopic Adjustable Band Surgery (LAGB), is to acknowledge that you need the help of a TOOL to be successful.

The MIDBAND helps control the volume of food you can eat at one sitting and gives you the control you need. You must combine the surgery with daily exercise and good food choices (natural unrefined food, fruit, vegetables and lean protein) to be successful.

We feel it is very important for you to contact patients that have had the surgery before you make your decision. You can do this through our support groups or through Internet chat forums. If you decide to have your MIDBAND surgery with us, you will be required to speak to our patients before having surgery. Our patients understand the need to change their behaviour in order for the MIDBAND to be successful. Their journey and experience with the MIDBAND will be very beneficial to you.

We also ask you to immediately start an exercise program. The amount of exercise you can do depends on your degree of obesity, your co-morbidities, and your fitness level. We generally request that younger more healthy obese patients commit to the equivalent of walking 1 hour daily. If you have significant, arthritis etc and can not walk then a water based exercise program is indicated (you weigh 1/8 of your weight in water).

We ask that you keep a journal of your exercise and review it with your family physician or personal trainer on a bi-weekly basis. Your commitment to exercise regularly and set fitness goals for yourself is essential if you are to be successful with MIDBAND Surgery. Our patients regularly do such fun events as 10k walk/runs, triathlons, swimming events, martial art retreats, cycling, ballroom dancing, geotracking, kayaking, playing hockey, raquet sports etc. You must become active. YOU MUST BECOME A DOER NOT AN OBSERVER.

You are also requested to change your eating habits prior to surgery. Our dietitian will go over healthy eating with you, but again this is not rocket science. Most patients know what they should eat, but often end up eating the wrong foods in the wrong proportions. It takes effort and commitment on your part to ensure that you eat the regular meals that are composed of healthy unrefined, natural food. GET THE JUNKFOOD, STARCHES, and FATS OUT OF YOUR HOUSE. Fill your fridge and pantry with fruit, nuts, vegetables and lean protein. Get rid of the pop and juice. Drink water, tea or skim milk.

We recommend support group attendance or an Internet support group. Other good groups to belong to are TOPS, Over Eaters Anonymous, and Food Addicts Anonymous. Emotional/Stress eating and addictive eating behaviour is often the underlying cause of obesity and patients must recognize and deal with these issues.

If you do the above 1st Steps , you are well on your way to success with Lap Band/MIDBAND Surgery.

If you do the above and change your behaviour pre-op and put in the necessary work and effort, you will be successful with your Lap Band/MIDBAND Surgery. We look forward to helping you achieve success and become the healthy happy fulfilled person you deserve to be.