is Lap Band Surgery right for you?

For some weight loss can be very difficult because it takes a lot of will and determination to not fall back into old habits. Some people just need help in order to reach their goals and this can be done with Lap Band Surgery. Although this surgery isn’t for everyone especially if the patient has preexisting medical condition that may be complicated by this surgery so it does require a physicians to look into your medical history to determine if you are the right candidate for such a surgery.

Lap Band surgery is becoming increasingly common procedure. This may be due to the fact of how many celebrities and talk shows have had widely publicized surgeries or covered the topic on their show. This surgery does give hope to those who do feel helpless about losing that extra weight because they have tried everything.

The surgery consists of a series of small incisions, your surgeon would use a small camera, called a laparoscope, to visualize placement of the Lap-Band. The Lap-Band is placed around the top of the stomach and secured in place with sutures. The port is then placed underneath the skin on the top part of the abdomen. Surgery should take only about an hour, and an overnight stay in the hospital may or may not be required. The benefits of this procedure over others:

• The tightness of the gastric-band can be adjusted.

• The gastric-band is placed using key-hole surgery which doesn’t leave large scars and minimizes post-surgery recovery time.

• Gastric-band surgery is reversible and because nothing permanent has been done to the stomach, it can return to its normal shape.

• Patients typically lose 50% to 60% of their excess body weight within two years after the procedure. Additional plastic surgery may be indicated, depending on how much weight is lost.

This surgery isn’t always going to be the first thing your doctor will recommend you once you tell them you want to lose weight. It’s actually used in most cases as last resorts to help those extremely overweight lose the weight they need to return to a normal life.

A good candidate for this surgery would have a BMI, or body mass index, is between 35 and 39, then you must also have associated severe medical problems, or co-morbid conditions, in order to be a candidate for the Lap-Band. These conditions usually include diabetes, hypertension, or high cholesterol. But if your BMI is greater than 40, then it is not required that there be any associated medical problems.

Most insurance companies also require a history of previous attempts at weight loss. How stringent these requirements are can differ from one insurance company to another.

Many people do not meet the NIH (National Institutes of Health) requirements or do not have the insurance benefit for weight loss surgery, but they may still be able to pursue the procedure by paying for it themselves. Surgery typically cost between $17,000 to $30,000, depending on where you live, and the experience of the surgeon.

Source: http://www.yourbariatricsurgeryguide.com/lap-banding/#candidate