The Rise Of Popularity In Lap-Band And Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

By Arthur Young


Today, there are a number of weight loss surgery considered safe enough to help reverse obesity. The most popular of these is the procedure involving the reduction of the stomach size. The size and volume of the stomach is reduced into a small pouch or "sleeve" shaped like a banana. This is achieved without interfering with any openings in the digestive tract. The procedure is commonly discussed as Lap-Band and Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy.

The procedure is gaining in popularity and acceptance among the morbidly obese and bariatric population over the past few years, thanks to the breakthrough of laparoscopic surgical techniques that have made this bariatric procedure simple, safe and quicker weight loss option.

Research has now found that obese patients that go through this procedure are able to keep the excess weight off for longer. The study found that patients lost 57.4% of excessive BMI (Body Mass Index) over a period of 5 years.

The procedure is considered minimally invasive, usually resulting in smaller scars, lesser pain, a shorter hospital stay and quicker recovery. In the surgery, a bariatric expert will remove approximately 85% of the stomach, along with most of hunger-stimulating hormones, Ghrelin. Using a stapling device, a thin vertical sleeve of stomach is created and the remaining large portion of the stomach is removed.

The surgery helps you control hunger as most of hunger-stimulating hormones are removed from the digestive system. You lose 30 to 60% bulge of your pendulous tummy within the first 12 months of operation. No medical device is implanted inside of your abdomen. You can eat most of the food items, albeit in little quantity.

Gastric Sleeve patients will enjoy better health over a longer period of time. All the conditions they were struggling with as a result of being obese become easier to manage. Following your doctor's advice before and after the procedure will keep you healthy and help you reach your new life objective. Fortunately, these obesity treatments are available at fairly less prices in some other parts of world. In India and Thailand, for instance, medical tourists can avail the best quality obesity treatments at a fraction of the cost in their homelands.

In some regions, obesity surgeries like gastric sleeve and lap band can save up to 50 to 70 percent of the cost in the US or Western Europe, even after travel and hotel expenses are taken into consideration. Weight reduction procedures in Mexico, for instance, are offered at a quarter of the average cost in the United States, without compromising the quality of care.

The procedure minimizes the chances of developing vitamins and minerals deficiencies as well as lessens the chances of ulcers and dumping syndrome. The gastrointestinal tract anatomy is not altered and the stomach's normal function is preserved, allowing the ingested food to follow the normal course. Shorter hospital stay is another advantage. A patient may remain hospitalized for 1 to 2 days for the observation. People may return to day to to day activities 2 weeks after the surgery. For any strenuous activity and heavy lifting you are advised to wait for the next 4 to 6 weeks.




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