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Benefits Of Lap Band Weight Loss Surgery
In the past couple of years, lap band weight loss surgery has gained popularity as a new minimally invasive treatment for weight loss. The formal name for this procedure is laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding.
It requires no stomach stapling, no isolation of intestines or re-routing of intestines. LAP-BAND is a registered trademark that refers to a constrictive band placed around your stomach that limits its size and therefore the amount of food you're able to eat.
Lap band weight loss surgery was approved by the FDA in June 2001. At the time of its approval it was the only medical device with FDA approval for
adjustable surgical treatment of morbid obesity in the United States.
Since it reduces the capacity of the stomach and restricts the amount of food that can be consumed, it has proven to be a successful option for weight loss. One study shows that it was introduced in clinical trials in 1993 and since that time has been used more than 300,000 times.
According to the National Institutes of Health, if a person is obese and can't lose weight with a program of healthy diet and exercise, surgery might be an option.
The surgery is usually for men who are at least 100 pounds overweight and women who are at least 80 pounds overweight. If you are somewhat less overweight, surgery still might be an option if you also have diabetes, heart disease or sleep apnea.
Most medical professionals use Body Mass Index (BMI) to determine levels of overweight and obesity.
Lap band weight loss surgery limits the amount of food you can take in. Some operations also restrict the amount of food you can digest. Studies cited by the NIH state that many people who have the surgery lose weight quickly.
Keeping the weight off after surgery requires following an individually designed program of diet and exercise.
After surgery the band can be adjusted in the physician's office to meet the requirements of each patient. Because lap band weight loss surgery is minimally invasive, the procedure enables patients to recover more quickly with less pain and less risk of wound complications when compared to methods of weight loss surgery used in the past.
Lap band weight loss surgery is performed with only a small incision but still should be considered carefully by the individual and the doctor. The cost of lap band weight loss surgery may be a covered expense in insurance plans and ranges from $12,000 to $30,000, depending on where it is performed.
The surgery may have risks and complications, including infections, hernias and blood clots. For this reason, most medical professionals will recommend lap band weight loss surgery only as a last option.
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