Would You Be Suitable For Lap Band Weight Loss Surgery?
Posted by: HealthyGirl / Category: Weight Loss
There are several forms of weight loss surgery available today including the relatively new surgical procedure of gastric lap banding which is gaining in popularity and is quickly becoming the favorite choice for a significant number of severely overweight or morbidly obese people. But would you make a suitable candidate for gastric lap band surgery?
In providing an answer to this question we will begin by presuming that you are suitable for obesity surgery in general and that your only concern therefore is whether you should consider lap banding. In simple terms this would mean that you are over 18, are severely overweight with a body mass index (BMI) in excess of 40 (or over 35 with one or more co-morbid conditions and that you have already tried traditional weight loss methods (possibly including drug treatment) without success.
It is often assumed that people having weight loss surgery are merely overweight and it is all too easy to forget that people who are severely overweight are often suffering from a variety of other conditions, some of which stem from the fact that they are overweight. It is the existence of these other conditions which normally presents a hurdle when it comes to choosing between different forms of surgery.
As lap banding is a form of restrictive surgery where the stomach is physically reduced in size to limit the quantity of food which can pass through the stomach and digestive system, this form of surgery is unlikely to be suitable if your esophagus, stomach or intestine are abnormal. An abnormality could be either inherited or acquired and a typical problem seen is a narrowing at one or more points along the digestive tract.
Problems within the esophagus or stomach which may result in bleeding (such as esophageal or gastric varices – a dilated vein) would also rule out gastric lap band surgery, as will difficulties at the location at which the band is to be placed around the stomach, such as an injury, scarring or gastric perforation.
Problems may also arise if you are suffering from any form of inflammation or inflammatory condition within the gastrointestinal tract like ulcers, esophagitis or Crohn’s disease.
Finally, lap banding is not considered suitable for pregnant women or for women who are contemplating pregnancy. Where pregnancy happens following lap band surgery the band can be deflated to allow for the higher nutritional requirement however, where loosening the band is not sufficient, the band might have to be removed.
One advantage of lap band weight loss surgery is that the procedure can be reversed and, if it is necessary, the band can be removed returning the stomach to its original state. However, this can also be a disadvantage of the system. Motivation is key to any form of weight loss surgery but becomes a particular issue when it comes to lap band surgery. Should you have any doubt about how determined you are to succeed then this type of surgery may not be a suitable choice for you.
Tags: gastric bypass, gastric lap band, lap band, lap band surgery, lap banding, obesity surgery, weight loss surgery
