Understanding Gastric Banding Surgery for Weight Loss
Gastric banding is a type of “restrictive surgery” used by overweight and obese individuals to lose weight. At The N.E.W. Program’s bariatric surgeons uses one of a variety of minimally invasive procedures to reduce the size of the stomach. After gastric banding surgery, our patients feel full faster, eat less, and experience weight loss.
The two types of restrictive surgery for weight loss are called:
1. Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LapBandTM System and REALIZE)
2. Vertical banded gastroplasty
Drs. Brian Quebbemann and Justin Braverman, using laparoscopic surgery, place an inflatable band around the upper part of the stomach, creating a small pouch that can hold only a small amount of food. The narrowed opening between the stomach pouch and the rest of the stomach controls how quickly food passes from the pouch to the lower part of the stomach. The LapBand® System or REALIZE TM Personalized Banding system used by The N.E.W. Program bariatric surgeons helps our patients eat less by limiting the amount of food that can be eaten at one time and increasing the time it takes for food to be digested.
The patient’s stomach can be adjusted in size by inflating or deflating the hollow band. Drs. Brian Quebbeman or Braverman can quickly inflate the band in The N.E.W. Program’s Corporate Medical Office in Newport Beach. The inflation of the band makes the opening smaller, causing food to pass more slowly. The adjustments are made by adding or removing fluid inside the hollow part of the band by injecting or removing the fluid through a small port which is placed under the skin in a muscle in the chest wall. Each adjustment is individualized based on the patient's needs.
It has been demonstrated that laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding leads to loss of about 40% of excess weight, on average. It should be noted that the results vary widely based on the patients starting weight and adherence to diet and activity level.
Gastric banding is considered among the least invasive weight loss surgery. With The N.E.W. Program’s skilled bariatric surgeons gastric banding is one of the safest surgical weight loss procedures. Unlike gastric bypass surgery, banding does not interfere with food absorption. The procedure can be reversed if desired by the patient and the stomach generally returns to its normal size.
ABOUT THE LAP-BAND® SYSTEM
The LAP-BAND® System is a prosthetic device made out of plastic. It was FDA approved for the treatment of weight loss in the middle of 2001 after being studied in the United States. The Europeans and Australians have had experience using the LAP-BAND® System for over five years. The LAP-BAND® System is an adjustable ring that is placed over the upper stomach to create a small pouch. The ring is attached to tubing which itself is attached to a port that lies under the skin. The tightness of the ring is adjusted during routine office visits. If a patient does not experience adequate weight loss, fluid is added through the port and the band tightens creating a smaller pouch and a sense of early fullness after meals. If too much fluid is present such that the patient cannot tolerate any solid food, fluid is removed from the band. See some more pictures of the LAP-BAND® System. Using these adjustments, the band can be fine-tuned for each patient. Currently, over 1000 LAP-BANDS® are placed in the United States every month.
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THE REALIZE™ PERSONALIZED BANDING SOLUTION
The REALIZE™ Adjustable Gastric Band is a surgical implantable device that is used by the N.E.W. Program bariatric surgeons for weight reduction and improvement in obesity-related health conditions for patients with morbid obesity. The REALIZE™ Band is a soft, adjustable silicone band that wraps around the stomach to limit food intake. The band works by helping patients feel full faster and longer. Most patients lose significant weight and improve obesity-related health conditions within the first year of surgery.
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