When chronic obesity is an issue, you may need to consider medical weight loss assistance in the form of bariatric surgery. This isn’t a single procedure, but rather a collection of related techniques that help you lose weight by limiting how much you can consume, changing the way your body absorbs nutrients, or sometimes a combination of both strategies.
The Lap-Band® bariatric system is a non-permanent bariatric surgery method that uses laparoscopic techniques to minimize incisions and scars. It effectively controls your hunger by restricting the way food enters your stomach. The system is adjustable, so you can fine-tune your experience without additional surgery, and once you’ve lost the weight you want, the Lap-Band is removed, and you continue with your new lighter and healthier lifestyle.
Because Lap-Band is different from other bariatric approaches, there’s plenty of myth and misinformation surrounding the Lap-Band technique. Here are some of the myths — and truths — behind the Lap-Band bariatric approach.
With a wide range of options for bariatric surgery, each technique has its fans, and just like in the sports world, there’s trash talk about other methods. As with many procedures, Lap-Band surgical techniques have refined and improved with time, and so has patient satisfaction.
All bariatric surgeries are safe, reliable, and effective in the hands of experienced specialists, including Dr. Robert Snow and his team at the Snow Bariatric Center. Each technique has its pros and cons, and the best choice for any patient is part of the consultation process with Dr. Snow. The Lap-Band procedure is a legitimate bariatric technique with superior long-term weight loss results.
Any bariatric procedure involves not only the surgery itself, but lifestyle changes to successfully navigate post-surgery weight loss and maintenance.
Whether you have Lap-Band or gastric bypass, Dr. Snow may advise liquid diets for both pre- and post-surgical periods, typically lasting about two weeks each. However, after the adjustment period, you return to a regular diet, but you feel full more easily and your reduced caloric intake helps with weight loss.
Without surgery, sticking to a conventional calorie-deficit diet leads to weight loss of about one to two pounds per week. After your Lap-Band procedure, you can expect weight loss of about two to three pounds per week. While it’s faster, it’s not significantly so.
The Lap-Band provides an assist, but the onus of healthy eating remains on you. Many patients feel that this slightly increased weight loss rate is motivating, helping them build a healthier relationship with food, while their reduced stomach capacity discourages cheating.
There’s a popular misconception that Lap-Band is for people under a body mass index (BMI) of 50, while gastric bypass is used for those at higher BMIs. It’s true that some patients are better suited for one type of bariatric procedure, but any of the common procedures can be used with patients over 50 on the BMI scale.
To find out more about Lap-Band and bariatric surgery in general, call the most convenient location of Snow Bariatric Center, or use the online request tool to schedule your personal weight loss consultation with Dr. Snow. Your future health is too important, so get started today.
