For those who are overweight or obese and their health is at greater risk, traditional diet and exercise programs have been shown not to be helpful in getting an individual to drop excess pounds. In recent years, gastric banding also known as Lap-Band surgery as a method of weight loss has become increasingly popular for those suffering from obesity. The procedure involves placing a silicone band around the top portion of the stomach. It creates a small gastric pouch at the top of the stomach. The Lap-Band has an inflatable membrane and is attached to an access port. The band is then filled with saline solution to create restriction. It also decreases the amount of food a person is able to eat and causes one to feel full faster and satiated longer. Less food intake results in less calories consumed resulting in sustainable weight loss.
Lap-band surgery has become popular in recent years because it is a minimally invasive surgery with proven weight loss results and minimal side effects. As well, there is little scarring because the incisions where the lap band is inserted are so small. The surgery only takes about 45 minutes and the recovery period is very short. It is an outpatient procedure that is normally done in a private clinic setting. Most patients will return home a few hours after the surgery unless an obesity related health condition such as sleep apnea requires overnight monitoring. One other important benefit of having this surgery is it is the only available reversible weight loss surgery. The lap band can be removed at any time and the stomach is restored to its original state. The best benefit of having this type of weight loss surgery is that it has shown to be an effective long term weight loss solution. With the assistance of a nutritionist, patients learn how consume foods that are better choices in order to lose weight. On average, Lap-Band patients will lose about 1-2 pounds per week. Some patients have been known to lose weight at an even faster rate.
Patients who are morbidly obese, that is with a BMI of 40+, or 30+ and who suffer from weight-related diseases such as Type II Diabetes and obstructive sleep apnea, are normally the most feasible candidates for the surgery. When one is being considered for the surgery, there is a screening process that includes consulting with a psychotherapist and medical tests.
Obesity has become a serious epidemic across the country and shows no sign of decreasing, especially with more children becoming overweight and will often become obese when they are adults. The diet industry is a multi billion dollar a year business showing very little positive results. For the morbidly obese, these diet schemes do not work so weight loss surgery has become a preferred choice. When people consider weight loss surgery such as Lap Band surgery, they should consult with a weight loss surgeon to determine if they are a viable candidate for the procedure.
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