In this two-minute educational video, bariatric surgeons Dr. Ron Hekier and Dr. Rachael Keilin note things that patients should consider when deciding whether to undergo Lap-Band® surgery.

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Bariatric surgeon Dr. Rachael Keilin addresses the benefits of the Lap-Band® for women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant in this quick, informative video.

PREGNANCY WITH THE LAP-BAND®: TRANSCRIPTION

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The Lap-Band® is a powerful tool to promote rapid weight loss and improved health for people who struggle with being seriously overweight. But, the Lap-Band is just that — a tool — and for adjustable gastric banding surgery to be most effective, patients need to significantly change their eating and exercise habits, as well.

In this brief, informative video husband-and-wife bariatric surgeons Dr. Ron Hekier and Dr. Rachael Keilin map out the steps to long-term Lap-Band success. Their simple, clear guidance will help you make an informed decision if you are considering Lap-Band surgery, and will help you stay on track to heath and happiness if you are a Lap-Band patient. Click the player below to watch! Read the full story

Dr. David Provost clearly explains the differences between the Lap-Band procedure and gastric bypass surgery in this helpful two-minute video segment. Learn about the advantages and disadvantages of both procedures, average weight loss results, common side effects, and the differences in long-term follow-up care that the Lap-Band and gastric bypass procedures require. Click the video screen to watch now! Read the full story

In this two-minute video, Dr. David Provost gives a hands on demonstration of how the Lap-Band works to restrict food intake and help patients feel full, so they eat less and lose weight. Using an actual Lap-Band device together with pictures and animated illustrations, Dr. Provost explains the gastric banding procedure in plain English. Click the video screen to watch now! Read the full story

For many considering weight loss surgery, gastric banding–or Lap-Band surgery, as it’s more commonly known–is an appealing alternative to gastric bypass surgery.

In the past several years, Lap-Band procedures have gained tremendous popularity as a weight loss surgery treatment for morbidly obese patients. Although performed laparoscopically, it is a major bariatric procedure, and individuals considering the Lap-Band undergo extensive physical and psychological evaluations before undergoing the surgery. Patients who are morbidly obese (with a BMI of 40+) and who suffer from weight-related diseases, such as obstructive sleep apnea and Type II Diabetes, are the most viable candidates. Typical screenings before Lap-Band surgery include blood tests, imaging studies, and a consultation with a psychologist or psychiatrist.

How the Lap-Band Works

Like gastric bypass surgery and the vertical gastroplasty, the Lap-Band procedure promotes rapid and extreme weight loss by creating a small pouch in the top portion of the stomach. However, instead of creating the pouch with surgical staples, the bariatric surgeon fastens a gastric band around the top portion of the stomach like a belt.

Attached to the band is an adjustable balloon that controls the size of the stomach pouch. The surgeon can expand the balloon via a small access port located just under the skin. This allows the surgeon to optimize the size of the stomach for each unique patient, and also make additional adjustments during follow-up visits to promote continued weight loss. These follow-ups, or “fills”, are painless and non-invasive. The doctor injects saline solution into the Lap-Band balloon via the access port to increase the tightness of the band around the stomach pouch and restrict food consumption. A follow-up fill procedure generally takes only 15 minutes and can be done in the doctor’s office.

Benefits of Lap-Band Surgery
The pouch that is created with the Lap-Band procedure can generally hold about 30 ml. As the small pouch fills up quickly after just a few bites, the brain receives a message that the body is full. As a result of the procedure, patients feel fuller faster and get hungry less often, so they eat significantly less and lose weight quickly. On average, Lap-Band patients lose 1-2 pounds per week. Some patients may lose at an even faster rate initially. Although initial weight loss takes longer, current research indicates that over time, weight loss results are comparable to the results from gastric bypass surgery.

In addition, gastric banding is easily reversable–a doctor can remove the Lap-Band in a follow up surgery, if necessary. Many patients choose the Lap-Band procedure for this reason. Unlike the gastric bypass, Lap-Band surgery does not cut or reconnect any part of the stomach or intestine. Gastric banding patients also generally do not have the same issues with nutritional deficiency that can occur with a gastric bypass. On the flip side, however, Lap-Band patients require more frequent follow up visits for band adjustments. And, as with any major surgery, complications are possible. If you are considering weight loss surgery, consult with a bariatric specialist to determine whether the Lap-Band procedure is right for you.

Want to see the Lap-Band in action? Watch this two-minute video about the Lap-Band procedure to understand how adjustable gastric banding promotes rapid weight loss.

Lap-Band image courtesy of Allergan, Inc.

Weight loss surgery has gained immense popularity over the past several years, as advances in medical technology and research have made it a more viable option for thousands of patients suffering from morbid obesity. This article explores the risks and benefits of bariatric procedures, to help you determine whether weight loss surgery is right for you.

Obesity has become an epidemic in the United States and shows no sign of getting any better. Many people spend years trying every new fad diet and weight loss gimmick that hits the market. In fact, weight loss is a multi-billion dollar industry.

However, for the morbidly obese individual, the thought of “starving” for months or years on end is unthinkable, and the idea of exercising to lose hundreds of pounds is inconceivable. Enter weight loss surgery.

Is Weight Loss Surgery the Ultimate Cure?

At first blush, weight loss surgery seems like an easy way to fix the problem of obesity. Medical professionals agree that consuming less calories than you burn is the only real way to lose weight. For those who have difficulty managing their food intake, gastric bypass surgery can provide an effective solution by both restricting the amount of food that can be eaten and interrupting the digestive process so the body absorbs fewer calories. Gastric banding procedures, such as the Lap-band® system, are less invasive and easily reversable, and they still help constrict caloric intake. However, these procedures do not affect how the body processes food in the same way that gastric bypass surgery does.

Who Should Consider Weight Loss Surgery?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a normal Body Mass Index (BMI) is 18.5 – 25, while a BMI of 30 and above qualifies as obese. Anyone with a BMI over 40 should consider weight loss surgery. That means a man who is 100 pounds overweight or a women who is 80 pounds overweight is a potential candidate for weight loss surgery. Often, weight loss surgery candidates will also suffer from obesity-related health issues, such as sleep apnea, heart problems or diabetes, and may also experience lower back and knee problems directly related to being overweight.

While surgery carries many dangers, these may be less severe than the danger of remaining morbidly obese. However, surgery only changes the physical aspects of being overweight. It will not address the mental and emotional causes for excessive eating. Candidates for weight loss surgery should also consider getting the appropriate help to address these psychological issues, because there are no guarantees that any weight loss method, including surgery, will cause you to lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Total success is only possible if you fully commit yourself to making the necessary behavioral changes needed to assure you can maintain your desired weight for the rest of your life.

Several different surgical options are available today, but all essentially work the same way by restricting the amount of food that can enter the stomach. No matter which method you choose, undergoing weight loss surgery is a serious decision. You need to consider both the risks and the benefits.

Benefits of weight loss surgery:

• Most patients will begin to lose weight immediately and will lose anywhere from 50 to 75 percent of their excess weight within two years of surgery. Long-term studies show that, although most weight loss surgery patients do regain some weight, most have kept off 50 percent of the excess weight five to 15 years later.
• Most other obesity related problems, such as sleep apnea, high blood pressure, diabetes, and lower back or knee pain, improve considerably and in some cases disappear.

Risks of weight loss surgery:

• Up to 20 percent of the patients require follow-up surgery to correct a complication of the original weight loss procedure.
• More than one-third of weight loss surgery patients develop gallstones (although newer treatments can minimize this risk).
• Approximately 30 percent of patients develop severe nutritional deficiencies, such as anemia, osteoporosis, and metabolic bone disorders. Taking the correct combination of dietary supplements can prevent these problems.
• Women should not get pregnant for at least two years after surgery to prevent serious post-surgical complications. Women should consider pregnancy only after consultation with a health professional to make sure they are taking the correct nutritional supplements to protect both her and the baby from nutritional deficiencies.

Bottom Line: if you are considering weight loss surgery, talk to your doctor and follow his or her advice.

This article provides an overview of health issues related to gastric bypass surgery and is not intended to replace the advice of a medical practitioner. Please consult your doctor prior to making any major medical decisions.