The LapBand surgery is a weight loss procedure that has increased in popularity in the United States. Those suffering from severe to morbid obesity, turn to the LapBand to lose weight and improve their health. Unfortunately, the LapBand isnt the best option for most. If you need professional help losing weight, it is important to examine all of your options. This includes the LapBand surgery, as well as alternatives.

The LapBand System

As previously stated, the LapBand system has increased in popularity in the United States. This is due to its high success rate, low recovery period, and low risk of complications. With the LapBand system, an adjustable gastric band is just to decrease the size of the stomach. This, in a way, forces patients to eat less, which results in weight loss.

Although the LapBand surgery is known for its low complication rate, complications do occur. Surgeons have a strict set of criteria they use to determine surgery eligibility. Those who are between the ages of 18 and 60 and who are in relatively good health are ideal candidates for the LapBand system. Due to the risks, surgeons prefer to operate on those who are severely obese. This translates into an average Body Mass Index (BMI) rating of 40 or higher. Most importantly is a clear understanding of the surgery and what is expected of the patient.

In terms of expectations, diet restrictions are a must. Due to a smaller stomach pouch, diet restrictions are necessary not only to lose weight, but to reduce post-surgery complications. Eating too much food can result in band slippage, acid reflux, and regurgitation. In the weeks following surgery, patients work through various stages, which include clear liquids, full liquids, pureed foods, soft foods, and solid foods.

Gastric Bypass Surgery

In many instances, gastric bypass surgery is similar to the LapBand procedure. The post surgery diet is similar. Instead of using an adjustable gastric band, stomach cutting and stapling is involved. In the United States, there are two main types of gastric bypass surgery; Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and Biliopancreatic Diversion.

Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass is the most commonly performed gastric bypass procedure in the United States. The stomach is stapled to create a smaller stomach pouch. Next, the small intestine is rerouted to the pouch. This process allows food to bypass the jejunum and duodenum. Although successful, in terms of weight loss, the rerouting of the small intestine has been known to cause a decrease in nutrient and calorie absorption.

Biliopancreatic Diversion is also known as extensive gastric bypass. This is the most complicated form of weight loss surgery. Unlike the LapBand system and the Roux-en-Y because the stomach is not just reduced in size, but the lower portion is removed. This procedure is not only permanent, but risky. For that reason, it is less common in the Untied States, but still available to select patients.

Diet and Exercise

Those suffering from extreme obesity opt for weight loss procedures. While a healthy lifestyle that includes diet and exercise is needed to see success with all weight loss surgeries, patients always have the option to rely just on it.

Due to risks and complications, not all patients are deemed ideal candidates for weight loss surgery. Those patients are encouraged to lose weight through diet and exercise. Although it will be a long and stressful process, it is a natural and safe way to lose weight. Professional help can come from a personal trainer and nutrition expert.

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Any type of surgical procedure comes with risks, some have higher risks than others. When it comes to gastric bypass problems the risks aren’t only associated with the surgery but with the lifestyle after the surgery as well. In order for you to have a successful outcome it’s very important that you fully understand, and follow, your doctors post op advice when it comes to the type and amount of food you can eat.

For most people the potential health benefits far outweigh the risks. Everyone knows that to be overweight is to invite a myriad of health issues such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. For people who are hundreds of pounds overweight the sheer act of moving at all can be close to impossible which will make weight loss next to impossible without some medical intervention.

Here is a list of some of the most common surgery complications:

1. Death

2. Anesthetic complications

3. Infection

4. Leaks where the incisions are located.

5. Bleeding post surgery.

6. Blood clots.

7. Kidney failure.

Because many of these risk factors are exacerbated by having too much fat on your body, your doctor may require you to lose weight prior to the procedure. It’s important that you understand that this type of surgery isn’t an easy way out. You will need to be strict with yourself both before and after the surgery. You will set yourself up for failure if you go into this with the idea that this is some sort of quick fix, or easy solution. You will still need to watch what you eat and get plenty of exercise, just like everyone needs to do if they want to lose weight.

Another thing that you should consider is that due to the bypassing of part of your stomach and small intestine, your body will have more difficulty absorbing nutrients. For this reason you will need to take a vitamin supplement. Most often your doctor will recommend iron, calcium, protein, and B-12 to name a few. These are the vitamins and minerals that won’t be as readily absorbed by your body after your surgery.

Another common side effect of the surgery is depression. Up to 23% of the people who undergo the surgery report feelings of depression post surgery. This is commonly thought to occur because many people blame all the problems in their life on the fact that they are overweight and they subconsciously expect their life to be wonderful after the surgery. When they realize that they have many of the same problems after the surgery as they did before the surgery they can get depressed. That’s why it’s so important for anyone contemplating the surgery to make sure they have realistic expectations about what the surgery can, and cannot, do for their lives.

For many people who are morbidly obese, a gastric bypass can literally mean the difference between life and death. Even so, it isn’t something that should be entered into lightly. Much thought and care needs to go into your decision to undergo this procedure. It’s also important that you carefully consider all the possible gastric bypass problems both during and after the surgery that you may encounter so that you can be prepared for them when, and if, they occur.

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