Procedures Involved In Lap-band And Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

By Joseph Foster


The use of surgery in weight loss is a practice that has continued to attract a lot of interest all over the world. The main reason is that surgical techniques have been refined over time and are associated with very few complications and failure rates. These procedures are broadly known as bariatric surgeries. Examples include lap-band and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. There are a number of things that you should know if you consider having any of these operations.

Surgical weight loss options should only be considered if lifestyle changes have been tried with no success for a considerable period of time. Although the lifestyle modifications tend to take a bit long before results can be appreciated, they do not have any serious side effects. The two main areas where changes can be made are the diet and level of physical activity. Strive to have a healthier diet and to engage in regular physical exercise.

This surgery is also known as gastric banding. As suggested by the name, a silicon band is used. Fitting this band on the upper portion of the stomach significantly reduces the size of your stomach. As a matter of fact the remainder is just a small pouch whose capacity is about an ounce of food. This operation is done laparoscopically meaning that very small incisions (surgical cuts) are required to see it through.

With a reduced stomach volume, one tends to fill up rather fast. With filling, comes satiety meaning the overall effect will be a reduction in food intake. Most of the food that is eaten is channeled towards food production and very little is left for storage in tissues. Weight gain is therefore controlled and in a matter of weeks or months, there is net weight loss.

The silicon strip is connected to a long tube that is accessible from under the skin. This tube gives the surgeon and the patient control over the silicon band. One can increase or reduce the pressure exerted by the band by filling the plastic tubing with water or emptying it. Increased pressure may be needed if the pouch is too big and a reduction may be required if it is too small.

Sleeve gastrectomy works the same way as the band procedure. In this type of surgery, a large section of the stomach is removed leaving between 20 and 25%. The result is a long tubular pouch which fills at a faster rate than the original organ. The pouch also empties at a faster rate meaning that there is less time for nutrients to be absorbed.

Complications are few and rare with these operations. Those that are likely to be encountered include nausea, vomiting, minor bleeds, food leakage, esophageal spasms and infections among others. Many of them are fairly easy to manage and resolve within a few days or weeks. Potential candidates need to discuss the possibility of these complications with their surgeons beforehand.

Appreciate that results will vary from one person to another. This differences are affected by both patient and doctor factors. Patient factors may include the magnitude of the initial problem, lifestyle after the procedure and genetic factors. Doctor factors include type of technique used and level of skill of the surgeon.




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