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About the Lap-Band
Everywhere you look there are more and more overweight
Americans. Most have tried multiple diets in the past
– usually with short-term success- but they are unable
to keep the weight off for the long term. It is our
honor to bring the Lap-Band surgery to the ArkLaTex
to help make the weight come off – and stay off. Over
250,000 Lap-Bands have been placed worldwide, and it
is the safest, least invasive, least radical surgical
option for weight loss.
Operations to treat obesity have been around for many
years, but the older operations are much more unsafe
than the Lap-Band. Other weight loss surgical procedures
involve cutting across the stomach or intestine, which
can increase the chance for leaks and post-operative
death. The Lap Band is the only minimally invasive,
adjustable weight loss surgery.
Gastric bypass risks are generally
substantially higher than risks from the Lap Band. "It
turns out that the 1 in 500 or 1 in 200 risk of death
[from gastric bypass] that people are commonly quoted
comes from the best surgeons," says researcher
David R. Flum, MD, MPH, assistant professor of surgery
at the University of Washington. "In fact, in the
real world …the risk of dying within 30 days of [gastric
bypass] surgery is about one in 50."
Unlike the gastric bypass ("stomach amputation")
or the VBG ("stomach stapling"), the Lap Band
does not require cutting across the stomach or intestine.
In the gastric bypass, cutting across the stomach or
intestines creates a chance for a leak which can be
fatal.
Studies have shown that some patients who had weight
related illnesses such as diabetes and high blood pressure,
have had those diseases cured when they lose weight
with the Lap Band, and no longer need to take their
medicines for those diseases.
The procedure works by surgically placing the Lap
Band across the top of the stomach, creating a small stomach
pouch. The band slows down the passage of food into the
rest of the stomach, creating a feeling of fullness with
only small portions of food. This allows for safe weight
loss without any nutritional deficiencies. There is no
dumping syndrome, no need for iron or B12 shots as there
is with the gastric bypass.
Most Lap-Band operations are performed as “same day” procedures,
where the patient leaves the hospital a few hours after
surgery. Time off from work varies from person to person,
but if no heavy lifting is involved, a patient can usually
return to work within 3-7 days after surgery.
The Lap-Band is adjusted or “filled” in the office. It
is adjusted after surgery by injecting the port with saline
solution. This inflates the balloon inside the band, shrinking
the diameter of the stomach opening. If necessary, fluid
can be withdrawn from the band, increasing the diameter
of the stomach opening allowing for greater food intake,
which is especially important for women who become pregnant.
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Lap Band placed across the stomach
with the port invisible under the skin. |
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The Lap Band port is accessed for
adjustments. This is generally done in the office. |
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When the Lap Band's inner balloon is completely deflated, the stomach
opening allows a moderate passage of food. |
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When the inner balloon is inflated there is a smaller opening into
the stomach creating a greater feeling of fullness and a greater restriction
to the amount of food you can eat. |
Advantages of the Lap Band:
· No cutting across the stomach or intestine
· Safest profile of any weight loss surgery
· Laparoscopic surgery with small incisions
· Short recovery time with most patients going home
the same day of surgery
It has been gratifying for Dr. Hekier and Dr. Keilin
to see cases among their patients who may no longer
need take insulin or diabetic pills, may no longer need
to take blood pressure medicines and are no longer held
back by back, knee and hip pain.
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