Lap band surgery, also called adjustable gastric band surgery, is a procedure in which a silicon band is inserted around the upper portion of the stomach. This band creates a small pouch that regulates the entry of food into the larger part of the stomach. Lap band surgery is designed to help obese patients control hunger and portion size, allowing them to lose weight.
Effectiveness
One of the main benefits of lap band surgery is its effectiveness. The creation of a small pouch at the top of the stomach fills quickly with food, meaning that a person will feel full after much less food is consumed. One of the main issue obese people have is that don't recognize the trigger in their brain that lets them know they are full, so they eat more than they are supposed to. Most patients steadily lose weight after the procedure, shedding a couple pounds each week, and up to 50 pounds or more over a year.
Laparoscopic Surgery
Another advantage of lap band surgery is that the procedure itself is minimally invasive compared to many other surgical procedures. The surgery is laparoscopic, meaning it is done through a small incision or hole, and the band itself is looped around the stomach. However, no large cuts need to be made to the stomach itself. Another benefit is that the procedure is completely reversible; so if there are ill-effects from having the band, it can simply be cut and removed.
Other benefits
Lap band surgery tends to have fewer serious complications than other forms of bariatric (weight loss) surgery. Lap band procedures have been shown to ease problems with sleeping disorders, such as sleep apnea, and increases overall alertness. The procedure has also been linked with decreased levels of depression in patients; since being overweight often detracts from self confidence, losing weight after the procedure is likely to make patients feel better about themselves.
Limitations
Perhaps the biggest drawback of lap band surgery is that the potential candidates for surgery are fairly limited. Generally doctors require patients to be obese, with a body mass index of around 35-40 or higher to be eligible for bariatric surgery. Surgeons also often require that a patient has attempted other weight loss methods, such as dieting and exercise for a substantial period of time.
Complications
While lap band surgery is usually safer than other forms of bariatric surgery, there are several complications that can arise. For one, the surgeon can accidentally fail to get the band around the stomach, or the band can slip up the stomach. The band can also potentially rub against the stomach causing inflammation, and it is possible that ulcers will form. If the band rubs against the stomach too much it can start breaking into the tissues of the stomach, which can potentially become a serious problem.
Tags: band surgery, stomach band, after procedure, against stomach, around stomach