Lap Band Surgery
Lap Band Surgery – Long-Term Weight Loss Solution
LAP-BAND® is an effective tool to help you achieve long-term weight loss. And that’s what really matters.
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Has been shown to take inches off the waist and hips
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Obese patients lost, on average 6, inches in waist and 6 inches in hip circumference in 1 year
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Involves no use of metal surgical staples, no amputation of any part of the stomach, nor any cutting of the intestines
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About the Procedure – Lap Band Surgery
Weight loss surgery, also known as bariatric surgery, is not just one operation. Doctors have a number of excellent options when working with people who are considering surgery as a way to overcome obesity. One weight loss surgery that involves removing part of the stomach is called the sleeve gastrectomy or biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch. This procedure is rarely done, so the concentration here is on the two most popular weight loss surgeries, the lap band and gastric bypass surgery. There is some confusion about the differences between these procedures. Both have their place in the treatment of obesity, and it is important to understand the differences when making such an important and potentially life-changing decision.
The gastric bypass is performed more than any of the other weight loss operations. This is the procedure most people refer to as “stomach stapling.” This is an accurate description of the procedure, as the surgeon actually forms a pouch by stapling the stomach and then attaching part of the intestines to the pouch. The term bypass is used because the stomach and the rest of the intestines are bypassed and are no longer part of the digestive process. The stomach then can only hold a small amount of food, allowing a person to attain a feeling of fullness more rapidly. Further weight loss happens because fewer calories are absorbed.
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What Is Lap Banding?
The principle of the Lap Band is similar to bypass surgery in that a pouch is also formed in part of the stomach. In this case, though, the doctor uses an implanted medical device in the form of an inflatable and adjustable ring to form the pouch. The smaller stomach reduces the amount of food that can be ingested and causes a reduction in appetite.
The adjustable nature of the lap band allows the doctor to inject saline into the band to change the size of the pouch. The doctor works with the patient who helps determine what is a comfortable level.