| If you're thinking about undergoing weight | | | | stomach using the preferred keyhole |
| loss surgery, it's not only an important | | | | laparoscopic surgery. The placement of the |
| medical decision but a significant financial | | | | band creates a small pouch right at the top |
| decision too. Lap band surgery or adjustable | | | | of the stomach which holds about 50 ml. The |
| gastric band procedure is usually used in | | | | pouch 'fills' with food quickly and the |
| dire circumstances and is performed with | | | | passage of food from the top to the bottom of |
| laparoscopic instruments, which means the | | | | the stomach is quite slowed down. This |
| surgery is minimally invasive and has a short | | | | surgery, unlike the traditional malabsorptive |
| time for recovery. The American company, | | | | weight loss type (Roux-en-Y, biliopancreatic |
| INAMED Health, designed the BioEnterics | | | | and duodenal switch) doesn't cut out or |
| LAP-BAND Adjustable Gastric Banding System, | | | | remove any part of the digestive system. |
| which was first introduced in Europe back in | | | | |
| 1993. | | | | After surgery the patient should eat less, |
| | | | eat more slowly and chew food thoroughly. |
| Gastric banding, including the Lap Band | | | | Initial weight loss is slower than with |
| procedure and weight loss system is usually | | | | Roux-en-Y but statistics show that over five |
| indicated for people whose Body Mass Index is | | | | years the weight loss outcome is pretty much |
| above 40. Or for those people who are 100 | | | | similar. Some patients may find that before |
| pounds (45 kg) or more over their estimated | | | | their first 'fill' they're still able to eat |
| ideal weight according to the 1983 | | | | large portions. |
| Metropolitan Life Insurance Tables (still | | | | |
| used today). Or for those people between 30 | | | | The band may remain deflated during pregnancy |
| to 40 who have co-morbidities (high blood | | | | and once breast feeding or bottle-feeding is |
| pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, arthritis), | | | | completed it may gradually be re-inflated to |
| which may improve with weight loss. Those who | | | | help with postpartum weight loss if |
| are eligible to have it must be between ages | | | | necessary. Many physicians make the first |
| 18 and 55 years, although there are doctors | | | | adjustment between six to eight weeks |
| who will perform surgery outside these ages, | | | | following surgery to allow the stomach |
| some may be as young as 12. It should not be | | | | adequate time to heal. Then after that the |
| performed when severe cardiopulmonary | | | | fills are done as needed. |
| diseases or other conditions are present, | | | | |
| which make them poor candidates. | | | | A common occurrence for patients is |
| | | | regurgitation of swallowed - acidic food from |
| Inflammatory diseases of the g. i. tract like | | | | the upper pouch, which is commonly known as |
| ulcers, esophagitis or Crohn's disease don't | | | | productive burping and is not normal. Other |
| make a person a good candidate. In order to | | | | complications include ulceration and |
| be considered one must have a good | | | | irritated stomach tissue. |
| comprehension of the risks and benefits of | | | | |
| the procedure and have a willingness to | | | | On occasion, the narrow passage into the |
| comply with the substantial lifelong dietary | | | | lower part of the stomach may become blocked |
| restrictions that are required for long term | | | | by a large portion of food that is unchewed. |
| success. | | | | Mechanical malfunctions can occur including |
| | | | port leakage, some cracking of the |
| Unlike people who have procedures such as the | | | | kink-resistant tubing or disruption of the |
| Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, duodenal | | | | tubing connection from the port to the band, |
| switch or biliopancreatic diversion surgery, | | | | pain at the port site and port displacement. |
| it's unusual for gastric band patients to | | | | |
| experience any nutritional deficiencies or | | | | Lap band surgery and gastric banding if |
| malabsorption of their micro-nutrients. So as | | | | compared to other weight loss surgeries have |
| the upper part of the stomach perceives that | | | | shown a much lower mortality rate, the |
| it's full, the message to the brain is that | | | | stomach returning to normal if the band is |
| the stomach is full and this sensation is | | | | removed, there's no cutting or stapling of |
| what helps the person eat smaller portions | | | | the stomach, the band is adjustable without |
| and lose weight over time. Calcium | | | | additional surgery and there are no |
| supplements and Vitamin B12 injections are | | | | malabsorption issues because no intestines |
| not usually required as they are with the | | | | are bypassed. There are also fewer life |
| Roux-en-Y and other types. | | | | threatening complications. And the |
| | | | psychological effects of any weight loss |
| The adjustable gastric band or Lap Band is an | | | | procedure also should not be ignored. Be |
| inflatable silicone prosthetic device which | | | | aware that some people have died undergoing |
| is placed around the uppermost section of the | | | | this surgery. |