Gastric bypass surgery is performed to help morbidly obese patients lose significant amounts of weight.
A revolutionary surgical approach, allowing for incisionless surgery, is the next step in the evolution of minimally invasive surgery.
Sleeve gastrectomy is a weight loss procedure in which a large part of the stomach known as the greater curve is surgically removed to restrict food intake.
LAP-BAND® is an adjustable gastric banding system used to facilitate gradual weight loss in morbidly obese patients.
"Lap-band" is common shorthand for "laparoscopic adjustable gastric band." This is safe and effective procedure and a proven surgery to treat obesity. It is reversible if needed, carries a particularly small risk of complications, and results in substantial long-term weight loss. ("Lap-band" is actually the brand name of one of the competing laparoscopic gastric band devices, but has passed into common use, in the same way we use "Kleenex" for "tissues" and "Coke" for "cola.")
Weight loss surgery comes in two forms: "restrictive" and "malabsorptive." Restrictive procedures shrink the stomach's capacity; malabsorptive surgeries reconfigure the digestive tract so the body absorbs fewer calories. The lap-band procedure is in the restrictive category. Gastric bypass, which is a different type of operation from the lap-band, is a combination of restrictive and malabsorptive techniques. Strictly malabsorptive procedures are rare nowadays.
The Lap-Band is capable of achieving two critical elements in promoting weight loss. When properly adjusted, the band can effectively control hunger and portion size. To make the stomach's capacity smaller, surgeons performing the lap-band operation fit a small inflatable silicone ring around the upper part of the patient's stomach. When food funnels through the narrowing created by the band, the patient gets the sense of fullness after a smaller meal. Thin tubing connects the lap-band to a port, which is implanted beneath the skin of the abdomen. The doctor can inject or remove saline through the port thereby tightening or loosening the band to tailor the restriction to the individual.
The lap-band procedure is performed under general anesthesia so that the patient is completely unaware during the stomach surgery. The surgeon installs the band with small, thin laparoscopic instruments via tiny incisions. This generally means lower risk of complications, less discomfort, and shorter recovery, compared to "open" surgery. Once the band and port are in place, the doctor completes the procedure and the patient goes to the recovery room.
Dr. Jeremy Korman stands out among Los Angeles surgeons providing lap-band surgery. The Los Angeles bariatric surgery center where he is the medical director, L.A. Bariatrics, has the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery's "Center of Excellence" designation, and so does Dr. Korman himself. This means that they have undergone a rigorous verification process conducted by experts, who conclude that the center and Dr. Korman provide outstanding care and support. It also means that both the center and Dr. Korman personally have extensive experience specializing in this field, because each surgeon and each center must perform a minimum number of operations, both annually and over the course of a career, before receiving this prestigious designation. Dr. Korman and the L.A. Bariatrics team have a long record of success stories, and you can be confident of joining that list.
Depending on where you live, lap-band surgery costs can vary. Additionally, no two patients have identical needs, and several factors can cause price variations. Please call us to get an accurate quote.
When you are considering costs, you might also think of the costs of not acting in response to serious obesity. Higher medical bills, more sick leave, and less productive work are just the start: there is also the non-financial cost that you pay in lost energy, health complications, discomfort and shorter expected lifespan.
L.A. Bariatrics offers help as you work out the financing for an operation. Furthermore, for patients seeking lap-band surgery, insurance often pays. We would be happy to advise you on how to get the best results when requesting authorization from your insurer.
After lap-band surgery, expect to spend about a day in the hospital, although same day surgery can be done under appropriate circumstances. About a week later, you will be back to your usual level of activity, which is considerably quicker than with some other procedures. You will transition to a solid-food diet within three weeks, and then you will start on the post-surgery healthy diet and activity schedule that you will maintain into the future. Your progress and your health will be monitored in follow-up visits, a regular part of the post-surgery schedule.
Support groups are a vital way that patients receive the encouragement, information, and sense of community that can make all the difference in the weight-loss effort. L.A. Bariatrics organizes support groups for people who have had lap-band surgery. This is an important way to boost your likelihood of success.
If you'd like more information on how Los Angeles-based Dr. Korman and L.A. Bariatrics can help you fight obesity with the lap-band, please call (800) 491-1977. We look forward to speaking with you.
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