In this week’s edition of WLS News, discover how weight loss surgery can reduce the risk of cancer in women, and why results may be different for men. Plus, learn about the rising trend of American teenagers choosing weight loss surgery, find out why some patients Down Under are forced to wait up to seven years for obesity surgery, get the details on a new online support program for gastric bypass and gastric sleeve patients, and discover why BMI is not the best way to determine obesity among the elderly. Read the full story

New Gastric Band Debuts

Lap-band fans, move over — there’s a new kid on the block: the REALIZE™ Adjustable Gastric Band-C, the newest addition to the REALIZE portfolio.

The latest offering from Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., the REALIZE-C features an aerodynamic design – hmm, not sure why that’s important – but in any case a design that helps it go in easier and work better for the larger patient.

The REALIZE Band-C carries over the classic high-volume, low-pressure system as the original REALIZE Band, but in addition to its new styling, it boasts a stoma adjustment range a full 14% greater than before to accommodate larger patients. And that’s not all — the REALIZE Band-C dominates all other gastric bands with its “Wide-Trak” size – a burly 23 mm — making it the biggest band available. Who says size doesn’t matter?

Other standard features on the REALIZE-C include an unlockable/relockable closing mechanism for intra-operative repositioning, a removable band extender with a pre-lock position, making placement a snap; multiple locking techniques and greater grasping area; radiopaque parts that show up under X-ray; plus optional pinstriping, 2-tone paint, and heated cupholders front and back.

Okay, I might have made some of those up.

But, in an interesting marketing move that is very pro-patient support, patients who pick the REALIZE band for their laparoscopic adjustable gastric band surgery gain full access to the REALIZE mySUCCESS™ program, a Web-based support tool that helps identify the root causes of problems you may encounter as you start your new life, then sets you up with tools to fix ‘em.

Intrigued? Ask your doctor whether REALIZE-C or some other band is best for you