Lap Band Surgery
Deciding if the Lap band System is the Right Step
People who have been thinking of undergoing Lap band surgery should meet with an experienced bariatric surgeon for an initial consultation. Qualified bariatric surgeons can help determine if an individual is a good candidate for Lap band surgery or if they are better suited for another form of weight loss surgery such as gastric bypass.
Gastric bypass burgery and the Lap band offer different benefits and risks. By consulting with a bariatric surgeon, weight loss surgery candidates will be able to find what solutions might be right for their obesity problem.
Understanding How Lap band Surgery and Gastric Bypass Surgery Differ
Lap band surgery is the least invasive form of these two types of weight loss surgery. Most Lap band surgeries are same-day procedures with many patients fully healed from surgery after two weeks. Through a series of narrow incisions and the use of a small laparoscopic camera, the bariatric surgeon inserts a belt-like band around the upper part of the stomach, creating two pouches. The upper, smaller pouch serves the new stomach and the lower, larger pouch is the remaining part of the stomach.
The Lap band contains a saline solution-filled ring, which can be adjusted to control the size of the upper, smaller pouch. The surgeon can make this adjustment with a small hypodermic needle via an access point embedded underneath the skin. Most Lap band patients require 6-8 adjustments during the first 18 months of surgery to achieve optimal weight loss results. Typically patients notice that the rate of their weight loss stabilizes after approximately two years.
There are some potential complications associated with Lap band surgery, including the stomach outlet becoming blocked, enlargement of the stomach pouch and the band leaking. Another problem can occur if the band moves from its original location because of increased weight loss. If this happens, the stomach can move above the band and the patient could experience severe heartburn or vomiting.
The other popular type of weight loss surgery is gastric bypass. During gastric bypass surgery, the bariatric surgeon creates an upper, smaller pouch and a lower, larger pouch before modifying the small intestine to be connected to each section. Gastric bypass is much more invasive than Lap band surgery and usually requires a 2-3 day hospital stay after the procedure; however, most patients are fully recovered after three weeks.
Weight loss associated with gastric bypass occurs much more rapidly over the first 3-6 months than that associated with Lap band surgery. Patients usually experience a tapering off of weight loss after 10-16 months.
The highly invasive nature of gastric bypass surgery increases the risk of complications. Infection is always a risk and any concerns a patient has should be mentioned to the bariatric surgeon immediately.
The Importance of Finding a Quality Bariatric Surgeon
In order to facilitate a successful bariatric surgery experience, patients should look for a quality surgeon they work well with. For the most part, working with an experienced bariatric surgeon will reduce the risk of complications and also provide a high-quality post-surgery support system.
The initial visit with a weight loss surgeon will determine if any of the several bariatric surgeries are appropriate for the patient. Most surgeons adhere to a set of candidacy criteria established by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the early 1990s to help determine obesity. The standard is based on an individual's body mass index (BMI), which is a quantitative measure of body fat based on height and weight. The NIH determined that successful candidates for weight loss surgery must fall into one of two categories.
If the BMI is between 35 and 39, a candidate must have an associated medical condition such as hypertension, diabetes or high cholesterol to be considered for a procedure. If the BMI is 40 or above, there is no need for another condition to be present for the surgery to be considered.
After bariatric surgery, the surgeon will be instrumental in helping patents achieve their weight loss goals. Immediately after surgery the surgeon or dietician will place the patient on a liquid diet for approximately two weeks. Depending on the speed of the recovery after this time, the patient will be begin eating soft foods and then eventually on to more solid foods. The surgeon will also have patients begin an exercise regiment and may also incorporate a behavioral modification program to assist them with adjusting to a different eating habit.
The doctor is an instrumental component of weight loss success. The importance of feeling comfortable with a bariatric surgeon cannot be understated, since patients will need to be at ease sharing their concerns, worries and ambitions with the surgeon. A quality surgeon will be there to facilitate weight loss success by providing support, answering questions and offering encouragement. It is important that prospective patients locate the most experienced and supportive weight loss surgeon they can in order to reduce the pressure associated with this life-altering event.