INTRODUCTION TO GASTRIC BANDING SURGERY
What is the Gastric Banding Procedure?
The Lap Band surgery is the safest, least invasive and only adjustable surgical treatment for morbid obesity in the United States. It was FDA approved in 2001. It is a recognized surgical procedure by most insurance companies today. This procedure induces weight loss by reducing the capacity of the stomach, thereby restricting the amount of food that can be consumed at one time.
Safest and Least Invasive Obesity Surgery
Like a waist-belt, the band is fastened around the upper stomach to created a new, tiny stomach pouch. As a result, patients experience an earlier sensation of fullness and are satisfied with smaller amounts of food, as if they had consumed their usual "before surgery" meals. Since there is no cutting, stapling, or stomach re-routing involved in this procedure, it is considered the least traumatic of all weight loss surgeries. This procedure is usually performed Laparoscopic -- small tiny puncture incisions which obviates the larger incision as in the Open surgery, patients generally experience less pain and scarring. Mortality risk with the LAP-BAND system is also significantly lower than with other obesity surgery procedures, as is the risk of nutritional deficiencies associated with the gastric bypass. In addition, the hospital stay after this procedure is shortened to less than 23hours. Patients can typically resume normal activities with 1 week, which is quicker than with other surgical alternatives.
Reversible Procedure
Because no permanent changes are made to the body's anatomy and physiology, this procedure can essentially be completely reversed. If necessary, all of the system components can be removed from the body with no damage to the digestive organs. The stomach will generally return to its original form and capacity once the band is removed.
Adjustable
The LAP-BAND System is an adjustable silicone band with an inflatable inner surface. It is connected to an access port below the skin surface by thin, kink-resistant silicone tubing. The port allows the surgeon to adjust the size of the LAP-BAND to meet individual patient weight loss needs by adding or removing fluid to inflate or deflate the band. This impacts the amount and consumption rate of food. Adjustments to the band, which are performed in the surgeon's office, are determined by the patient's weight loss, the amount of food that can be comfortably eaten, the exercise regimen, and other issues surrounding the patient's health, as well as the amount of fluid already in the patient's band.
Living with the LAP-BAND
The effectiveness of the LAP-BAND depends on the success of the surgical procedure and the ability of the patient to change his or her diet and eating behavior. We offer the LAP-BAND procedure and the comprehensive long-term care for our patients, including dietary, behavior-modification, and counseling support. After surgery, LAP-BAND patients must maintain scheduled follow-up visits.
Many of Dr. Teng’s patients travel from near by towns to seek his expertise in bariatric surgery. We have provided directions to our practice from the following cities for your convenience:
|
