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Why Consider Surgery for Weight Loss? | Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric BandingMorbid Obesity can rob you of your life, but after weight loss surgery, it is possible to walk away from the pain of living with the disease. A whole new life is waiting for you and you can take the first step today by learning more about the two options offered at Premier Surgical Services: Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding and Lapararoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass. Why Consider Surgery for Weight Loss?While it may seem that the simple solution to weight management is to eat less and exercise more, the fact is that these methods are ineffective among the severely and morbidly obese patients (i.e. BMI > 35). Surgical treatment is the only method proven to obtain long-term maintenance of weight loss. With the ultimate goal of surgery being to reduce the patient's weight into a range that minimizes obesity-related illness or death, weight loss surgery has been proven to help achieve these results. Obesity-related health conditions:80% of Type II Diabetes is related to obesity. The connection between diabetes and obesity is so strong that some health experts have coined the term “diabesity.” Obesity facts:Obesity is the leading cause of preventable deaths and affects more people worldwide than malnutrition. Are you a candidate?Bariatric surgery reduces the amount of food and calories that can be ingested at each meal, but this procedure involves much more than just the surgery. It is about changing lifestyles and habits and requires patient dedication to achieve good results. Patients are assisted with this through extensive pre-surgery counseling, support group meetings, and post-surgery follow-up. Prior to being accepted as a candidate for surgery, patients must meet the following criteria:
Determine If Your A Candidate for Weight Loss Surgery?Disclaimer: There will be no guarantee about weight loss with surgery. You may lose more or less weight than the average represented here. Please talk with your surgeon about your potential weight loss. Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric BandingGeneral InformationThe Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding procedure is a purely restrictive procedure and is a minimally invasive approach to weight loss surgery. Performing the surgery laparoscopically allows for smaller incisions thereby reducing postoperative pain, providing for a shortened hospital stay and quicker recovery. This operation involves placing a silastic "belt" around the upper part of the stomach. The "belt" essentially separates the stomach into two parts: a tiny upper pouch and a larger lower pouch. The band is connected by tubing to a port or reservoir that sits below the skin of the abdominal wall usually around the belly button (the port site varies widely by surgeon). The port can't be seen (and often can't be felt) from the outside. Inside of the "belt" is a balloon that can be filled by placing fluid through the port. As the balloon is filled, it slows the passage of food from the upper pouch into the lower pouch. As the band is progressively filled, patients will feel full with smaller amounts of food. Typically patients will need two band fills before they feel significantly restricted and four to six band fills total in the first year after surgery. Weight loss with an adjustable gastric band is typically slow and steady. Band patients generally lose one to two pounds per week during the first year after band placement. Weight-loss can be seen for two to three years after surgery and most patients will eventually lose 50 to 60 percent of their excess weight. Band patients often see a significant improvement in their weight-related medical problems. Most patients will see a reduction in their need for medications to treat diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and in fact, many will come off of their medicines completely. Many patients will see resolution of their sleep apnea and will no longer have to sleep with a CPAP machine. Most patients also report a significant improvement in the quality of their life, as they are able to do activities they haven't been able to do for years. AdvantagesThere are several features that make the adjustable gastric band appealing. There is minimal stress to the body at the time of surgery because the band is almost always done laparoscopically and does not involve cutting the stomach or rerouting the intestines. Most patients can go home the same day or the next morning. Recovery from surgery is usually quick and most people return to work a week or so after surgery. The risk of death from band surgery is 0.1 percent, although many centers report even lower ratios. Considerations Before Choosing a BandPatients contemplating gastric banding must be comfortable with the thought of having a "foreign body" in them for life. Although no problems have been reported to date, it is unknown what the effect of having this foreign body will be in 20-30 years. It is also unclear at this point what the long-term (more than 10 years) weight -loss results with this operation will be, although the early data is promising. After banding, patients need to be available for regular follow-up, especially in the first year after surgery when the band is being "tightened." If you live several hours from your surgery center, this can be difficult. Filling the band involves sticking the patient with a needle, so if you "hate shots," a band may not be the right choice. Band patients do not suffer adverse effects from eating sugars (dumping syndrome) so they need to be more disciplined in their food choices. Things like sodas, ice cream, cake and cookies slide through the band easily, but obviously these choices will not lead to the desired goal of significant weight loss. Although the band has an excellent safety profile, there are complications that can occur with any weight-loss operation, and the band is no different. Frequently Asked Questions About Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding SurgeryWill I be sick a lot after the operation?The Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding System limits food intake. If you feel nauseated or sick on a regular basis, it may mean you are not chewing your food well. It could also mean you are not following the diet rules properly. Another reason you would feel sick may be that there is a problem with the placement of the band. So you should contact your doctor. Vomiting should be avoided as much as possible. It can cause the small stomach pouch to stretch. It can also lead to slippage of part of the stomach through the band. That would reduce the success of the operation and in some cases, it would also require another operation. Will I suffer from constipation?There may be some reduction in the volume of your stools. That's normal after a decrease in food intake, because you eat less fiber. This should not cause severe problems. If difficulties do arise, check with your doctor. He or she may suggest you take a mild laxative and drink plenty of water for a while. Drinking plenty of water is a good idea, anyway. Your needs will vary, but you should drink at least 6-8 glasses of water a day. Will I need to take vitamin supplements?You may. It's possible you may not get enough vitamins from three small meals a day. At your regular check-ups, your specialist will evaluate whether you are getting enough vitamin B12, folic acid and iron. Your surgeon may advise you to take supplements. What about other medication?You should be able to take prescribed medication. You may need to use capsules or break big tablets in half or dissolve them in water so they do not get stuck in the stoma and make you sick. You should always ask the doctor who prescribes the drugs about this. Your surgeon may tell you to avoid taking aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain relievers. That's because they may irritate the stomach. The problems these drugs may cause could mean the band would need to be removed. What about pregnancy?Becoming pregnant can be easier as you lose weight. Your menstrual cycle may become more regular. If you need to eat more while you are pregnant, the band can be loosened. After the pregnancy, the band may be made tighter again. Then you can go back to losing weight. What if I go out to eat?Order only a small amount of food, such as an appetizer. Eat slowly. Finish at the same time as your table companions. You might want to let your host or hostess know in advance that you cannot eat very much. What about alcohol?Alcohol has a high number of calories. It also breaks down vitamins. An occasional glass of wine or other alcoholic beverage, though, is not considered harmful to weight loss. Will I need plastic surgery for the surplus skin when I have lost a lot of weight?That is not always the case. As a rule, plastic surgery will not be considered for at least a year or two after the operation. Sometimes the skin will mold itself around the new body tissue. You should give the skin the time it needs to adjust before you decide to have more surgery. What will happen if I become ill?One of the major advantages of the Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding System is that it can be adjusted. If your illness requires you to eat more, the band can be loosened. This can be done by removing saline from it. When you have recovered from your illness and want to lose weight again, the band can be tightened. This can be done by increasing the amount of saline. This process most often takes only a few minutes and most patients say it is nearly painless. When do I need an adjustment?Everyone requires a different restriction level and adjustment schedule for optimal results. There are several indicators that may alert you to schedule an appointment. Some of these include: no weight loss for more than three weeks, increased appetite, feeling hungry less than four hours after eating a meal, ability to eat more food during a meal than usual, increased snacking, and ability to eat foods that you were unable to eat before (i.e. white breads, fibrous vegetables). If you are several years post-op, you may still require an adjustment. Long-term follow-up is the key to success! Can I be over-adjusted? If so, how will I know I am?Yes, you can have too much saline in your band. Tighter is not always better! Indicators that you may be over-adjusted include: difficulty swallowing food or saliva, regurgitation, waking up at night coughing or vomiting and frequent reflux/heartburn. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should contact your surgeon's office immediately. How much weight will I lose?The amount of weight you may lose depends on several things. The band needs to be in the right position and you need to be committed to your new lifestyle and eating habits. In the US clinical trial, 2% of patients gained some weight; 5% neither gain nor lost weight (+5%); 61% of the patients lost at least 25% of their excess weight; 22% lost at least 50% of their excess weight; and 10% lost at least 75% of their excess weight. You should lose weight gradually. Losing weight too fast creates a health risk and can lead to a number of problems. Nausea and vomiting are only the most minor examples. A weight loss of 2 to 3 pounds a week in the first year after the operation is possible, but one pound a week is more likely. Twelve to 18 months after the operation, weekly weight loss is usually less. Remember that your main goal is to have a weight loss that prevents, improves, or resolves health problems connected with severe obesity. Helpful Linkswww.selfregional.org |
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