| Laparoscopic Gastric Banding
Bariatric procedures are recommended for people with excess weight ranging 20% above the normal weight, the limit between excess weight and obesity. Among the different procedures for the treatment of obesity, Laparoscopic Gastric Banding is a convenient option for long-term weight loss.
Due to the use of laparoscopic instruments, this procedure is minimally invasive consisting of the placement of a band around your stomach, creating a pseudo-pouch that allows you to feel full after eating. With gastric banding the size of the pouch only allows a small portion of food at a time, which contributes actively to permanent weight lose over time.
Losing weight is sustained in most patients that undergo laparoscopic gastric banding, who generally lose the excess weight in the term of 1 to 2 years. Because the gastric band placed in the stomach only allows patients to consume 3 small portions of food per day, most of them feel satisfied between meals, and regain control over their life.
The new stomach poach contributes to losing weight consistently until your goal weight is reached and after that, you will not be overweight again, unless you reverse the treatment or force your stomach to enlarge, making the gastric banding procedure useless. Stretching of the stomach occurs when a person eats larger portions to the point of vomiting.
Vomiting by itself does not cause stretching, but if the person faces the discomfort, forcing the vomit over and over (like in bulimia), this can cause the stomach to stretch. However, patients usually do not reverse the surgery and end up learning new and healthy eating habits and the weight loss is permanent after gastric banding.
You can qualify for Laparoscopic Gastric Banding if your body mass index (BMI) is more than 40 kg/m2 for at least five years, the index at which obesity begins. Although there is a lower acceptable limit of 36 kg/m2 for men, and 38 kg/m2 for women, meaning that also a few overweight people may qualify, and not only obese individuals.
The other requirements to meet when it comes to undergoing a gastric banding procedure include an upper age limit of 55 years, or maybe up to 60 depending on your overall health. You will also be considered if you have a medical history of repeated unsuccessful weight reduction attempts, and acceptable surgical risk.
Evaluation focuses on the absence of endocrine etiology such as thyroid malfunction, as well as mental stability, based on no mental illness but also no history of alcohol or drug abuse. You must be aware that bariatric procedures are not quick fixes, making necessary precautions from both sides, doctors and patients to avoid complication risks.
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