Gastric Banding Surgery

Severe obesity is a growing health issue and concern for many people. For those that are at least one hundred pounds overweight, Gastric banding is a very safe and effective means to treating morbid obesity. Severe obesity is a serious disease, not a disorder of willpower, and deserves vigorous treatment like what is available with lap band surgery.

Gastric banding is a form of weight loss surgery designed for severely obese patients. If you have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or greater lap banding may be the obesity therapy for you. Lap band surgery uses an inflatable silicone band that is placed around the top portion of a person’s stomach using a laparoscope or an endiscope. Gastric banding continues to grow in popularity for the impressive weight loss results enjoyed by severe obesity patients.

During a gastric banding procedure, the implanted silicone band inflates to create a small pouch at the top of the stomach. Lap bands section of this upper portion of the stomach which fills up quickly, allowing severe obesity patients to feel a fullness when consuming very small portions of food. Lap bands also restrict the movement of food into the bottom part of the stomach.

Gastric banding procedures, unlike traditional weight loss surgeries, do not cut into or remove any part of the digestive system. The lap band surgery can be reversed simply by removing the band. Removal of lap bands can be done laproscopically. With lap bands there are also no malabsorption since no intestines are removed or re-routed

Lap bands are adjustable and can be infalted or deflated by injecting or draining saline solution thorugh a subcutaneous port. Adjustable lap bands can be critically importance to those wishnig to increase the size of their stomach once reaching their goal weight or when becoming pregnant.

One of the main benefits of gastric banding is that it has a far lower mortality rate than the other kinds of obesity surgery. The complication rates of lap banding are lower and most of the complications are less serious tha nwith traditional forms of weight loss surgery. One disadvantages of the Gastric banding procedure is that patients tend to lose weight more slowly than with other forms of bariatric surgery.

Before deciding if Gastric banding is truly the best type of bariatric surgery for you and your individual circumstances, you should certainly consult a medical professional that is trained in the treatment of severe obesity. These medical professionals are best suited for help you consider the advantages and disadvantages of the various types of weight loss surgery that are available.