If you are extremely overweight and are having trouble getting your weight down to a healthy level, your physician may have recommended lap band surgery – which is also called gastric banding. This weight loss strategy is a surgical procedure, and not recommended for people who do not meet the minimum criteria a body mass index of 30 with one or more comorbidities such as T2 diabetes or high blood pressure, or a body mass index of 40 or above.
There are restrictions on who may receive the procedure, typically those under the age of 18 are restricted from having gastric banding, as are those at high risk for surgical complications, actively addicted persons or those who are unable to understand the procedure According to medicine.net, most medical weight loss programs, and their surgeons will also look for history of failure to lose weight using conventional diet and exercise.
How It’s Done
Lap band surgery is done under general anesthesia and performed laparoscopically. Several small incisions are made in the abdomen, and the surgeon will use a small camera to guide surgical instruments inside the body cavity. The silicone band is placed around the stomach and tightened to form a small pouch. Patients often go home the same day and may return to work within the week.
A gastric band is not a permanent device, and depending on the patient the band may need to be revised, replaced, or removed altogether if significant complications should arise. Among all the gastric surgeries for medical weight loss, the gastric band has much fewer side effects and a shorter recuperation time than the Rouen XY or sleeve gastrectomy.
Work with the Best
When seeking medical weight loss surgery, you should look for doctors who have performed high numbers of successful procedures. They will best be able to guide you from start to finish and help you make the lifestyle changes to ensure that your medical weight loss procedure is successful.
