There are a number of different types of weight loss surgery available today including the relatively new surgical procedure of gastric lap banding which is gaining in popularity and is quickly becoming the favored choice for many severely overweight or morbidly obese people. But are you a suitable candidate for gastric lap band weight loss surgery?
In answering this question we will start by assuming that you are a suitable candidate for weight loss surgery generally 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 18, are severely overweight with a body mass index (BMI) of over 40 (or over 35 with at least one co-morbid condition and that you have previously tried traditional weight loss methods (possibly including drug treatment) without any success.
It is often assumed that individuals contemplating weight loss surgery are simply overweight and it is all too easy to forget that people who are severely overweight are generally suffering from a variety of other conditions, some of which stem from the fact that they are overweight. It is the presence of these other conditions that usually creates a hurdle when it comes to choosing between different surgical options.
Because lap banding is a type of restrictive surgery in which the stomach is physically reduced in size to limit the amount of food which can be passed through the stomach and digestive system, it follows that this type of surgery is probably not going to be suitable if your esophagus, stomach or intestine are abnormal. An abnormality could be congenital or acquired and a typical difficulty seen is a narrowing at some point along the digestive tract.
Problems with the esophagus or stomach that might result in bleeding (such as esophageal or gastric varices – a dilated vein) would also rule out gastric lap band surgery, as will difficulties at the location where the band would be placed around the stomach, like an injury, gastric perforation or scarring.
Difficulties may also arise if you suffer from any form of inflammation or inflammatory condition in the gastrointestinal tract such as esophagitis, ulcers or Crohn’s disease.
Finally, lap band surgery is not suitable for pregnant women or where pregnancy is being considered. Should pregnancy occur after lap band surgery it is possible to deflate the band to compensate for the increased nutritional requirement but, where deflating the band is not sufficient, the band may have to be removed.
One benefit of lap band surgery is that the procedure can be reversed and, if it proves necessary, the band can be removed and the stomach returned to its previous state. But, this can also be a disadvantage of the system. Motivation is key to any form of weight loss surgery but becomes a particularly important issue in the case of lap band surgery. If you have any doubt about how determined you are to succeed then this form of surgery may not be a suitable choice for you.
Post a comment below...{ 0 comments }
