Lap Band Surgery

Australia is well and truly deep in an obesity epidemic that is costing the nation a lot of money, but more importantly, people's health and lives. Despite best efforts to lose weight, yo-yoing from diet to diet, machine to machine or taking a more balanced lifestyle change, the struggle to lose weight can be far more difficult for some of us then others. For physical, psychological or lifestyle reasons the pursuit in weight loss calls for more drastic measures and one such measure that is becoming increasingly mainstream is that of lap gastric banding. The device used in Australia for Gastric Banding is called the Lap Band system.

How does Lap Band Surgery/Gastric Banding work?

Gastric Banding involves the use of an adjustable surgical band (Lap Band) that creates a smaller stomach and reduces the outlet for food in the stomach and intestine. After this surgery, the smaller stomach controls the amount of food one can eat and the slower removal of the food results in the individual being satisfied with smaller amounts of food.

The Procedure

The surgery involves a small incision so that that he band can be placed inside the patient’s abdomen. The band is positioned around the upper part of the stomach and tightened so a smaller\new stomach is created. A port connected to the band via a tube is placed just under the skin so that adjustments to the band can be made easily.

Adjustments

Once implanted, the band can be adjusted to accommodate the changing needs of a person such as to allow for pregnancy and the altering of stomach size for weight loss needs. After consultation with the surgeon one may have the size of the stomach reduced even further to aid with weight loss.

Adjusting the band is performed without further surgery simply by inflating/deflating the band with saline solution. This is achieved simply via the port that is positioned under the skin during the initial procedure.

How much weight can I expect to lose?

The individual and the way the adjustments are managed play a key role also. The recorded average for those who have undertaken gastric banding is 500grams to 1 kilogram a week.

What are the cost of lap band surgery?

The cost of lap band surgery varies, depending on the doctor, your weight, whether you have any health issues, where you have the surgery, if you have health insurance or not. In Australia if you have the right combination of health insurance with the right surgeon the cost of lap band surgery can be around $5,000, however without insurance the cost can blow out to $17,000. Please contact your surgeon for more deetails

Should I have lap band surgery/gastric bandinging?

Because surgery of any sort has associated and unknown risks it should only be a considered once all other reasonable options have been exhausted, namely, lifestyle change, diet and exercise. The surgery is considered low risk with a low mortality rate of 1 in 2000. If the band is removed the stomach will return to normal.

Only people who are severely obese and meet other physical requirements are suitable for this procedure which will be fully discussed during a consultation with a surgeon. Lap band surgery is suitable for people where losing weight is required for managing or avoiding weight related conditions. Potential side effects from the gastric banding will also be discussed with your surgeon.

If you undertake lap band surgery you still have to live a life that is conducive to maintaining a healthy weight and eating habits. In reducing the size of the stomach gastric banding is simply an aid in controlling your food intake. You will still be working to eat the correct foods and staying active.

The recover time for lap band surgery is about 1 week