Lap Band Surgery Overview
Lap Band Surgery is a form of weight loss surgery where the size (anatomy to be more precise) of the stomach is drastically reduced to help prevent in reducing food intake and as a direct result, help in reducing weight. This is done by using a gastric band as a belt across the upper portion of your stomach. A gastric band is inserted via tiny incisions of around 1 cm in the abdomen and placed around the upper portion of the stomach. There are currently two types of bands that are being used by surgeons in the US, the lap band and the other is called the realize band.
What is Lap Band?
Lap Band Surgery
The lap band itself or more popularly known as lap band system is an adjustable silicone band that is used to portion off your stomach as described above. At the end of your lap band procedure, the stomach will be portioned off into a much smaller pouch. This pouch acts as the new stomach. Typically the size of the pouch or new stomach will be the size of a golf ball. What this does is limit the size of food that your stomach can now hold and process. This would mean a drastically reduced appetite leading to a reduced intake of food. A person that has undergone the lap band procedure will find that he or she now feels full after eating smaller portions of food. This reduced appetite and reduced intake of food over a period of time leads to weight loss and the patient will see a dramatic loss of weight.
The lap band system is completely adjustable. The lap band itself is connected to a port that is positioned just beneath your skin. This port can be tightened by inflating it. This is done by using saline. By tightening the port, your weight loss can be expedited. Alternately you can loosen the port by removing the saline if required. This is done to minimize any side effects that may occur.
Lap band surgery is performed under general anesthesia and usually takes anywhere between 30 minutes to 1 hour. The procedure is painless and does not involve cutting of the stomach, stapling of the stomach. The lap band can be adjusted according to the patients needs and can be removed laparoscopically if required. It also does not involve a lengthy hospital stay. Hospital stay generally do not exceed 48 hours and finally lap band surgery is completely reversible.
If you are considering land band surgery it is important to note that lap band surgery should be considered as an option only when exercising and dieting have failed and your current weight has reached a level where it is causing a significant health risk and is affecting your quality of life. The National Institute of Health have set guidelines for qualifying for weight loss surgery such as lap band surgery and it is important to see if you qualify and are a candidate for lap band surgery. In addition women who are pregnant and people with distorted stomach, intestine or esophagus may not be candidates for lap band surgery.
No related articles.
