Basics On Gastric Banding Surgery Nj Residents May Find Interesting

By Olive Pate


There are several options that can be considered for weight loss in Englewood, nj. Some are fairly simple and rely primarily on the effort of the affected individual while others are more complex requiring the assistance of a specialist. The commonly used methods all over the world are physical exercise and dietary modifications. Surgical procedures are usually considered when these conservative modalities fail to yield results. There are a number of important things on gastric banding surgery nj residents should know if they intend to undergo this procedure.

This operation is a minimally invasive procedure that is aimed at limiting the stomach capacity. Reduced size means that less found is required to fill it and satiety is achieved much earlier than was the case previously. With time, the individual begins losing weight steadily. The food eaten is mainly used to produce energy and very little goes to storage.

The ideal candidate to undergo the operation should have body mass index, BMI, of more than 40. Alternatively, their weight should be 45kg or more above their ideal weight. In some case, a lower BMI of 35 to 40 is considered if there is an underlying medical cause such as diabetes or hypertension. Another requirement is that the individual must be recognised legally as an adult capable of making sound decisions.

The kind of preparation that is required varies from one centre to another. For instance one may be required to adjust on the number of meals in a day by adopting frequent small meals rather than few heavier meals. Patients are also commonly advised to wean off high calorie foods that have the tendency to increase the body weight. Medical conditions that may be present have to be managed before the operation.

General anaesthesia is typically used in the operation. This may be a downside if you intend to witness the surgery as it goes on. Arranging a video recording may be a good idea in this case. Three holes to serve as entry points for the instruments are made on the abdominal wall. A laparoscope is inserted into one of these entry points and an image of the internal organs of interest projected onto a monitor.

The beauty of this surgery is that there is no cutting of the stomach. Rather, an adjustable silicon band is positioned on the upper portion of the stomach. The compression effect of this band leaves the stomach as a small pouch that can only hold a fraction of what it could hold formerly. Adjustments may be made on the banding position depending on the initial stomach size.

There are a number of side effects that have been reported. In the immediate post operative period, patients may complain of vomiting, nausea and abdominal discomfort due to ulceration of the band site. Other side effects include oesophageal reflux, weight regain, dyspepsia, constipation and malabsorption of some vitamins.

In general, there are very few complications with mortality of just about 1 in 2000. The success of the operation depends greatly on the skill of attending surgeons. The most important thing to remember is that the operation cannot completely substitute the conventional methods of weight loss. Rather, it should be used as a complementary measure.




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