Weight Loss Surgery

Gastric Band Weight loss surgery has been used by hundred’s of thousands of Americans as a method to achieve healthier weight levels. One weight loss surgery is the Gastric By-Pass procedure, a fairly straightforward operation that is accomplished by placing a device, which is a belt-like section of plastic, around the upper stomach. This converts the stomach, in essence, into an hourglass. However unlike an hourglass, the upper portion and the lower portion of the stomach are not the same size. The upper portion is much smaller and is called the pouch. Part of the stomach is then used to form a tunnel or "Belt Loops" around the Band to help prevent the band from slipping down to the middle of the stomach.

The Band creates a calibrated narrowing at the bottom of this tiny pouch, so that it fills up with small amounts of food and empties slowly like an hourglass.

The band is connected to the port, which is placed outside the abdominal muscles but under the skin and fat so that it is not visible. The band is adjusted and restricts the amount of SOLID food that can be consumed before one feels full.

The adjustment is accomplished by placing a special needle into the port (which is buried under the skin) to increase or decrease the amount of saline fluid contained in the balloon. The Band is pictured in its normal position on the upper stomach at right.

There are several key features that make the Lap-Band an attractive surgical technique for weight loss:

Laparoscopic placement
No division or anastomosis of stomach or bowel
It is removable
Adjustable

The first two of the features above probably reduce the risk of surgery, which is especially important when operating on patients who suffer from morbid obesity. The fact that there is no cutting or repositioning of any intestine brings the risk of leak or obstruction to very low levels (not impossible, as outlined in the risks section below). The fact that the procedure is almost always done laparoscopically may allow decreased stress on the vital organs (heart, lungs, etc.) and may allow quicker recovery in comparison to open procedures.

Risks specific to Weightloss surgery include:

Band Slippage
Band Erosion
Band and/or PortSite Infection/Flipping

Testimonials:

"I just had the lap band put in on back in May of 2008. It was a fairly easy surgery and it as worked well in helping my with my weight loss goals and with my overall appearance. It has been a great tool to help me lose the weight I have been trying to lose for the last 15 years."

- Sharon, Age 52, Newport Beach, California

"At about 40 everyone in my family seems to gain weight. I have watched my parents, brothers and sisters all struggle with losing weight. I opted for the gastric band/lap band procedure and I could not be happier. Simply put, it helped me lose that stubborn weight easily and keep it off for over three years. "

-Nick, Age 44, San Marino, California

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