Many of us have tried numerous diets over the years in the hope of shedding excess pounds that are not only making us feel fatigued and self-conscious, but are also harming our health in many ways. Obesity is a leading factor in many illness including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and has even been linked to higher incidences of certain types of cancer.
Bariatric surgery has been an option, but invasive procedures and length of recovery times has scared many away from having the weight loss surgery performed in the past. For other patients, the FDA’s minimum requirements for the procedure prevented them from being eligible for the procedure, despite their obese weight level. The Lap Band surgical procedure has been around for several years with proven results and recently the FDA has recommended lowering the minimum BMI requirements for those who qualify for the procedure from 40 to 35, and for those with co-morbid diseases the new BMI requirement is as low as 30.
This type of weight loss surgery is performed in a minimally invasive fashion. It involves a restrictive band being placed around the stomach to create a smaller pouch effectively reducing the size of the stomach and the amount of food it can hold. Lap Band surgery often consists of a small incision and a much shorter recovery period than other bariatric surgery procedures such as gastric bypass surgery which can often carry the risk of abdominal hernias and has a longer recovery time. Gastric bypass requires larger incisions that may compromise the abdominal muscles as well as the detachment of the stomach from the intestines for a period of time.
As with dieting, any type of weight loss surgery will require dedication to an approved diet as well as exercise to help increase weight loss and improve physical health. For many who have tried dieting with less than successful results, Lap Band surgery may be a viable option.
