Types of bariatric surgeries
Bariatric surgeries are tailored for each patient according to his medical condition. Bariatric procedures have three main types – we will discuss them individually- from which surgeons choose the most suitable for each patient, and they include:
1. Adjustable gastric banding (LAGB)
gastric banding involves placing a band which is an inflatable silicone device on the upper half of the stomach to adjust its size as desired. Gastric banding is also called lap-band surgery and it’s been approved by the FDA (Food and drug administration) since 2001. Gastric banding is believed to be the simplest and the safest weight loss operation as it is less invasive than other types of bariatric surgery.
FDA has established guidelines for gastric banding and it includes obese patients with BMI (body mass index) 35 or more. Obese people with BMI 30 to 35 are eligible to have a lap-band operation if they failed to reduce their weight by following a healthy diet, avoiding a sedentary lifestyle, and other conservative treatments. Patients with obesity-related comorbidities are also elected to have a lap-band surgery to avoid further complications.
Gastric banding helps in reducing patients’ consumption by constricting their stomach size. Lap-band has a reasonably high success rate as surgeons expect patients to lose up to 50% of their weight after two years of the surgery. Surgeons often reassure patients before the surgery by clarifying the neglectable risks of lap-band as the Failure and the mortality rates of it aren’t common and barely noticeable. Patients who underwent lap-band rarely complain of long-term complications. However, 26% of patients may find mild unexpected results right after the surgery.
It is important to know what to expect from a lap band surgery as it has many advantages over other types of bariatric surgeries. Operation time is the shortest as it ranges from 1 to 2 hours and patients stay in the hospital for only 1 to 2 days afterward. Patients usually could get back to practice their daily activities after two weeks of the surgery.
Gastric banding isn’t permanent and could be easily adjusted or removed in a simple procedure that takes a few minutes. Lap band is less invasive than other procedures as the surgery doesn’t include cutting or transecting a part of the stomach or the intestine. Abdominal skin scarring after lab-band surgery is not large as the operation requires making 3 to 5 incisions each is about 1 inch. Surgeons often use a laparoscope to visualize the viscera better with minimal incisions.
Gastric banding is cheap relative to other bariatric surgeries as it cost about 9000 to 30,000 dollars. The price range of the lab-band system varies according to where you are going to have it and whether your health insurance will cover part of its costs or not. In the United States for instance most insurance companies cover lab-band surgeries.
Patients should consider the cons as well as pros of lap band surgery. Tolerability and probability to regain weight is the most common disadvantage that some patients may experience. Some Patients may need to get their band readjusted so they found some sort of discomfort due to ongoing maintenance. Although gastric banding is successful it is less efficient in weight loss than other bariatric surgeries.
