Lap Band Surgery Safer When Comparing Versus Weight Loss Surgeries
Saturday, October 16th, 2010Lap band surgery is a type of gastric bypass procedure for the treatment of obesity. It is a forty-minute procedure, during which the stomach is divided by an inflatable band, into two parts. These are the small upper portion of the stomach and the larger lower part. An outlet sits between these two areas and with application of the band; the flow of food passing through the upper portion of the stomach can be controlled.
Carefully selected before gastric bypass, physicians will scrutinize patients for their eating practices, look for any untreated medical conditions would could be contra-indicative, and treat them where possible. A psychological consultation will also be necessary to address the causes of overeating should they be due to any neuroses, depression or anxiety syndromes. Sex abuse of the patient in childhood can also play a part, as the person overeats to make themselves less desirable.
This banding procedure is completely reversible, and adjustable too. The band can be made tighter or looser by simply adjusting the amount of saline within the reservoir, through the use of a fine needle. The band can be removed by surgery entirely should any unforeseen adverse reactions (rare) occur or the patient wishes to have a baby, or starts to suffer from an illness.
It is sometimes the only option for people who have been turned down for the more invasive techniques of gastric bypass. As a guideline, most bariatric surgery will only be considered for people who have a mass body index of forty or more. To be considered for surgery at slightly less than that body mass index, the patient will only be considered if they have hypertension or diabetes, to qualify. People with a body mass index of less than thirty-five will usually be turned away and therefore banding surgery will be preferable in these cases, due to it being safer and quicker.
This surgery results in less scarring, a shorter hospital stay and recovery, and is less invasive. The lap band technique is much safer. Usually surgery would not be considered for people over the age of say sixty-six and over, or under eighteen; however, every case is selected by personal criteria so this is acts as a rough guide only.
A slower weight-loss rate is experienced with this surgery in comparison with more invasive surgery. Usually one to two pounds a week will be lost. Surgery is not advisable for people with existing gastric problems such as stomach ulcers, hernias and other diseases of the digestive tract.
This, along with other gastric bypasses result in a complete change in the digestive system of the body. People who have undergone this process will need to eat small portions and do so on a more regular basis. They will no longer be able to have a normal-sized plate of food. Hence a total lifestyle change will take place. They will also need to stick to a healthy food intake and exercise program, which requires self-discipline, which is one of the features medical personnel will look at when considering their viability for the lap band method.
Lap band surgery promises no dumping effects due to the fact that there is no re-routing of intestines. The dumping effect is a nasty side-effect of gastric bypass surgery when the patient takes in too many sweet things, or undigested food portions pass into the intestine quickly. The resultant cramps, weakness, vomiting, and nausea make the dumping effect an unpleasant event. Although lap banding claims to produce no dumping effect, it is still advisable to stick to a healthy lifestyle, which nothing (not even gastric surgery), can replace.
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