Are You A Suitable Candidate For Gastric Lap Banding?
There are several different types of weight loss surgery available today
including the relatively new procedure of gastric lap banding which is growing
in popularity and is fast becoming the preferred choice for many morbidly obese
individuals. But are you a suitable candidate for gastric lap banding?
In answering this question we will start by assuming that you are a suitable
candidate for weight loss surgery in general and that your only concern
therefore is whether or not you should consider lap banding.
In very simple terms this means that you are over the age of 18, are morbidly
obese with a body mass index (BMI) in excess of 40 (or in excess of 35 with one
or more co-morbid conditions) and that you have already tried traditional weight
loss methods (including possible drug treatment) without success.
It is often assumed that individuals facing weight loss surgery are simply
overweight and it is easy to forget that people who are severely overweight are
often suffering from a variety of other conditions, many of which arise out of
the fact that they are overweight. It is these other conditions that often
present an obstacle when it comes to choosing between different surgical
options.
As gastric lap banding is a form of restrictive surgery in which the stomach
is physically restricted in size to limit the quantity of food that can pass
through the stomach and digestive system, it follows that this form of surgery
is unlikely to be suitable if your esophagus, stomach or intestine are abnormal.
Such abnormality may be either congenital or acquired and a common 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 or a dilated vein) would also rule out gastric
lap banding, as will difficulties at the site where the band is to be placed
around the stomach, such as an injury, scarring or gastric perforation.
Problems may also arise if you suffer from any form of inflammation or
inflammatory disease within the gastrointestinal tract like ulcers, esophagitis
or Crohn's disease.
Finally, gastric lap banding is not suitable for pregnant women or where
pregnancy is contemplated. Should pregnancy occur after gastric lap banding
surgery the band can be deflated to allow for an increased nutritional
requirement but, where loosening the band is not in itself sufficient, the band
may need to be removed.
One benefit of the gastric lap banding system is that the procedure is
reversible and, should it prove necessary, the band can be removed returning the
stomach to its original state. This can however also be a disadvantage of the
system. Motivation is key to any form of weight loss surgery but becomes a
particular issue in the case of gastric lap banding. If there is any doubt about
your determination to succeed then this form of surgery may not be a good option
for you.
More articles about gastric bypass surgery:
How Does The Sleeve Gastrectomy Work? - The vertical sleeve gastrectomy is a purely restrictive form of weight loss surgery which is particularly suited to extremely overweight patients or to patients whose existing medical condition prevents them from undergoing other forms of morbid obesity surgery.
Meeting The Cost Of Bariatric Surgery - The cost of bariatric surgery today remains high and this article examines just what you might have to pay for weight loss surgery today.
Gastric Bypass Risks | The Risks And Complication From Gastric Bypass Surgery - Gastric bypass risks - like all forms of major surgery, there are a number of risks and complications from gastric bypass surgery which are examined here, together with the personal experience of one woman weight loss surgery patient.
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