Benefits And Risks Of Lap Band Surgery

Lap Band surgery can be an effective choice for those who are clinically obese. Diet and exercise are always a better alternative to weight loss surgery, but if these do not work or if you have tremendous amounts of weight to lose, you may need some extra help. Before you sign up at a Lap Band Toronto surgery center, make sure you completely understand the benefits and risks of the procedure.

Benefits of LapBand Surgery

The LapBand procedure carries many benefits over gastric bypass weight loss surgery. One of the main benefits is that the Lap Band itself is adjustable. This means the size of the opening can be changed to meet a patient’s changing nutritional needs. This also allows the doctor monitoring a patient’s weight loss to make changes if the patient is losing weight too slowly or too quickly. Pregnancy is another time when an adjustment may be needed, and this is easy with the Lap Band.

Because the Lap Band surgery does not actually change the shape of the digestive tract, it can be reversed. If necessary, the band can be removed. However, it is designed to safely remain inside the patient’s body for life. In most patients, the stomach will return to its normal size and shape after the band has been removed.

This procedure is the least invasive weight loss surgery currently available. It is a laparoscopic procedure, which means it does not require extensive incisions. This leaves less scarring, causes less pain, and patients deal with shorter recovery times and hospital stays than they would with other weight loss surgery options.

Finally, Lap Band surgery does not cause “dumping syndrome.” This is a common occurrence with bypass operations. It refers to an intolerance of carbs and sugars. When these foods are eaten, the patient will become nauseous, vomit, and experience cramping, dizziness, or overall weakness. This occurs because the undigested sugars hit the lower part of the intestines too quickly for the body to handle them.

Potential Risks of Lap Band Surgery

Like any medical procedure, there are some risks associated with the LapBand procedure. These are small, particularly when compared to the risks associated with more invasive weight loss surgeries, but you should be aware of them before having the procedure done.

One risk you face any time you have a surgical procedure done is the risk of blood clots or an allergic reaction to the anesthetic. Be sure that you discuss this with your doctor before having the procedure done. If you have had a reaction to anesthetic in the past, you may not be able to have the procedure.

The band itself may cause problems for some patients. A patient’s body may reject the LapBand and attack it like a foreign object. This is rare, but can cause serious complications. Also, sometimes the band can slip. This can cause it to erode the stomach. It can also cut off the blood supply to the stomach. If the band slips, another surgery must be performed to put it back in place.

If a patient does not follow the dietary guidelines given after the procedure, the pouch created by the band may stretch. Also, the wrong foods can cause vomiting or nausea. A healthy diet is necessary, even after the surgery, in order to guarantee weight loss. Patients who cannot commit to this diet should not undergo the procedure. The surgery is simply a tool to make the diet easier to follow.

While Lap Band surgery does carry some slight risks, it is considered a fairly safe weight loss surgery. Patients who have tried other ways to lose weight and failed should consider the LapBand system as a safe and effective alternative to obesity.

By: Amy Nutt

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