The Pros and Cons of Lap Band Surgery

In the quest to find the ultimate weight loss solution, medical researchers have come up with a variety of procedures and diets. One of them is lap band surgery. This is a simple procedure wherein a lap band (short for laparoscopic gastric band) is placed in the upper portion of the stomach. This procedure creates a small pouch, which limits the amount of food that the person takes in. The lap band itself is made of silicon and can be inflated and deflated within the person’s body.

Contrary to some people’s beliefs, just because someone has had a lap band surgery doesn’t mean that that person can continue his old eating habits immediately. In fact, there is a specific diet that one has to follow immediately after lap band surgery. This can be considered as a disadvantage by some people (due to inconvenience) while others may not see it in the same way.

The lap band diet has three phases – the liquid diet phase, the puree phase, and then the regular diet phase. The first phase lasts around 2 weeks after the surgery. As the name implies, the patient is only allowed clear liquids. This includes broth, clear soup, and fruit juices. The puree phase follows and lasts for another 2 weeks. In this phase, the patient can now eat high protein food, which has to be chopped into tiny pieces. The last phase ensues around the 5th or 6th week, wherein the patient can slowly add fruits, vegetables, carbohydrates, low fat proteins and the like. Meat, fibers, and bread are still not allowed however.

One big advantage of lap band surgery is the procedure itself. It is relatively simple and the patient need not be admitted to the hospital for it to be carried out. The patient can even resume normal activity within several days of the operation – except for eating, that is.

Another advantage of lap band surgery is the pain associated with it – it is minimal. This is especially significant if you compare the effects of gastric bypass and other similar surgical procedures. More so, with gastric bypass, the patient has a higher risk of infection. This is due to the fact that when the stomach becomes full, its contents do not tend to leak to other parts of the body as with gastric bypass. In addition to this, the placement of a lap band does not involve the risk of experiencing the dumping syndrome. This is wherein the patient develops intolerance for carbohydrates and sugar. The dumping syndrome is associated with gastric bypass.

Of course, lap band surgery can have its disadvantages as well. For one, people with certain conditions such as ulcers and GERD cannot have a lap band placed. People outside the age range of 18 and 55 are not recommended for lap band surgery either, although there have been exceptions to this. Again, the strict diet restrictions may prove to be cumbersome for some people.

If you are considering lap band surgery, you should consult with your medical practitioner first. The Obesity Goodbye Center is an institution that specializes in lap band surgery. They have 10 years of experience behind them to provide their patients with the best care possible. For more information, visit them at http://www.lapband4me.com/.

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