The Many Lap Band Surgery Advantages
Most people are familiar with gastric bypass surgery for weight loss, but may not have heard about laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding or lap band surgery for weight loss. The gastric band is a device that looks similar to a shower curtain ring and has an inflatable section around the inside of the ring. The band fits around the upper portion of the stomach. The diameter of the section between the smaller top half of the stomach and the larger bottom half can be narrowed or widened by injecting into or removing saline from the inflatable section of the band. Lap band surgery advantages are many, especially when compared to other weight loss surgery.
In gastric banding, the stomach and intestine does not have to be cut or re-routed in any way. This allows the band to be removed in the future, if desired or if necessary, without doing any damage to the stomach or digestive system itself. Because there is no cutting of the stomach or intestine, banding does not create any malabsorption problems, as in other types of weight loss surgery.
The surgery itself is much shorter. Average length of time is 45 minutes to one hour. A shorter surgery makes the anesthesia risk less, as well. Lap band surgery has fewer complications than other weight loss surgery.
Because the surgery is much less invasive, the recovery time is also considerably shorter. It is not unusual for a lap band patient to return to work (with restrictions on lifting) within a week’s time after having the procedure done.
With the gastric band, weight loss is slower. This allows time for your body to adjust to the changes. Skin has time to shrink back and most people do not have a large apron of fat or huge amounts of loose skin after weight loss with gastric banding.
These are just a few of the lap band surgery advantages. Gastric banding is a viable, less invasive alternative to other types of weight loss surgery.
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