Gastric Band Surgery
Gastric banding (e.g. LAP-BAND®) surgery is an option for patients who are at least 50 pounds overweight (BMI>30). The popularity of LAP-BAND® surgery has decreased in recent years due to less than ideal long-term patient outcomes.
Dr. Nusbaum takes care of a large number of LAP-BAND® patients. If you need a doctor for LAP-BAND® adjustments or follow-up, or for LAP-BAND® revision surgery to a gastric sleeve or gastric bypass, we can help!
About LAP-BAND® Surgery
The LAP-BAND® is an adjustable silicone ring that is placed around the top of the stomach. Band tightness can be adjusted by adding or removing saline through a port, which is implanted under the skin of the abdomen.
The LAP-BAND® gastric banding operation is done laparoscopically and typically takes about an hour. Surgery is usually outpatient, and recovery is generally rapid. Patients typically return to work in about one week.
The LAP-BAND® enables weight loss by suppressing hunger and causing more satiety with smaller meal portions. The amount of hunger suppression and satiety varies between individual patients.
OTHER SURGICAL WEIGHT LOSS SOLUTIONS
Gastric sleeve surgery (also known as a sleeve gastrectomy, a vertical sleeve gastrectomy, or VSG) involves surgically removing a large portion of the stomach, to reduce stomach volume from approximately 30-40 ounces to approximately 3-4 ounces. Over time, the gastric sleeve will expand to approximately 6-8 ounces.
Dr. Nusbaum uses state-of-the-art technology to complete his gastric sleeve operations. They are typically completed using laparoscopic or advanced robotics, using small incisions. The operation typically takes 1-2 hours and is performed in the hospital. Patients generally stay in the hospital for 1 day and can return to work in 1-2 weeks.
Gastric bypass weight loss surgery makes the stomach smaller and causes food to bypass the majority of the stomach and first part of the small intestine. Patients feel full more quickly* than when the stomach was its original size. This reduces the amount of food you can eat at one time.
In normal digestion, food passes through the stomach and enters the small intestine, where most of the nutrients and calories are absorbed. It then passes into the large intestine (colon), and the remaining waste is eventually excreted.
In gastric bypass, only a small part on the top of the stomach is used to create a new stomach pouch, roughly the size of an egg. The smaller stomach is then connected directly to the middle portion of the small intestine (jejunum), bypassing the rest of the stomach and the upper portion of the small intestine (duodenum). The procedure results in reduced calorie and nutrition absorption*.
The Gastric Bypass, Realize Band, Lap-Band and Sleeve Gastrectomy surgery can now potentially be performed through a single incision. The ability to do so uses cutting edge technology which falls under the title of Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery (SILS) which has been trademarked by Covidian. While recovery after weight loss surgery is not significantly different than conventional multi-incision laparoscopic surgery, the cosmetic results are by far superior.
Benefits include:
- Fewer Incisions – Typically patients receive one incision.
- Health and Cosmetic – With fewer incisions there is less chance of infection, less scarring and better cosmetic results.
- Faster Recovery Times – Same day as the surgery with even shorter recovery time*.
With the lap-band procedure, the amount of food your stomach can hold is reduced without any staples or cuts. You will eat less while feeling satiated longer*. Your stomach is divided into an upper and lower pouch, with the upper pouch being much smaller. It does not change the way your digestion works, and after six weeks, you will begin regular adjustments to the band.
This procedure is minimally invasive and the procedure can be reversed. It has the lowest risk for complications and nutritional deficiencies*. However, there are some risks involved, which include an infection, bleeding, moving or erosion of the band, and leakage. These risks are minimized by strictly following aftercare instructions and diet restrictions while keeping up with follow up exams.
The Realize Band is the second gastric band to be approved by the FDA for weight loss in the United States. The Realize Band is made of a strong, flexible silicone. During surgery, the band is completely wrapped around the upper part of your stomach. This creates a small pouch and a narrow passage to the lower stomach. This small passage delays the emptying of food from the pouch and causes a feeling of fullness.
The upper pouch can hold only about 4 ounces (1/2 cup) of food. As a result, you eat less food at one time, feel full sooner, and feel satisfied longer. The goal is to lose weight gradually, at a healthy rate of 1 to 2 pounds per week.*
The purpose of an adjustment is to ensure that you feel satisfied when you eat and that you are losing weight gradually*, about 1-2 pounds per week*. This illustration describes adjusting to optimize weight loss. The gastric band journey is different for each patient*, with no set number of adjustments or fill volume. However, each patient is striving to achieve common goals: a point of prolonged satiety and satisfactory weight loss or maintenance.
Revision Weight Loss Surgery is a surgical procedure that is performed on patients who have already undergone a form of bariatric surgery, and have either had complications from such surgery or have not successfully achieved significant weight loss results from the initial surgery. Procedures are usually performed laparoscopically, though open surgery may be required if prior bariatric surgery has resulted in extensive scarring.
