Monday, April 25, 2016

Important Facts On Lap-band And Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

By Joseph Foster


Surgery is increasingly being accepted as an option of weight loss. The surgeries that are found in this category are known as bariatric operations. The advances that have been made in surgical practice in recent times such as the adoption of laparoscopic techniques have made the operations more effective and safer. Lap-band and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy are among the most commonly performed types of bariatric surgeries.

Using surgery as an option for weight loss should come at the rear end after everything else has been attempted. Lifestyle options are the most ideal way of shedding off extra weight even though their effect takes fair long to be appreciated. The two main areas where lifestyle changes can be adopted is in the level of physical activity and the diet. Ensure that you take part in intensive physical activities regularly and cut down on high calorie foods in the diet.

This surgery is also known as gastric banding. As suggested by the name, a silicon band is used. Fitting this band on the upper portion of the stomach significantly reduces the size of your stomach. As a matter of fact the remainder is just a small pouch whose capacity is about an ounce of food. This operation is done laparoscopically meaning that very small incisions (surgical cuts) are required to see it through.

With a reduced stomach volume, one tends to fill up rather fast. With filling, comes satiety meaning the overall effect will be a reduction in food intake. Most of the food that is eaten is channeled towards food production and very little is left for storage in tissues. Weight gain is therefore controlled and in a matter of weeks or months, there is net weight loss.

A plastic tubing is usually connected to the silicon tube on the stomach to help make adjustments when need be. This is made possible by filling this tube with saline or withdrawing the same. When the tubing is filled with saline, the degree of the squeeze is increased and the size is reduced further. The reverse happens when the saline is drawn from the tube.

Just like the lap band operation, gastric sleeve gastrectomy is a restrictive operation. This means it limits the amount of food that one can eat in one sitting. The stomach is cut along its length to leave just a small portion of the original. Generally, between 75 and 80% of the organ is removed. What is left is a tubular structure that can only hold a fraction of the food held previously. Weight loss is through reduced food consumption and reduced absorption of nutrients.

Sleeve gastrectomy, unlike the band procedure, is irreversible. However, both are restrictive surgeries. This means that they are aimed at reducing the holding capacity of your stomach. In the sleeve surgery, a large section of the stomach (75 to 80%) is removed to leave a tubular pouch that looks like a sleeve. The reduced capacity and the increased emptying time are the main causes of weight loss in this case.

You should appreciate the fact that the results of the operation are bound to vary among patients. These differences exist because of patient and doctor factors. Patient factors may include the severity of the problem, genetic factors or the lifestyle after the operation. The doctor factors may include skill and type of technique used.




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