Is there still any weight loss benefit to the lap-band (gastric banding) today?
Here at Prime Surgicare in New Jersey, we have not performed any gastric band procedures in nearly three years.
For people who have been successful with it (achieved significant weight loss) great–keep it!
But many patients come to me who have experienced complications or their band has become deflated.
As a result, their weight loss has stalled or they have gained weight.
For those patients, I recommend revision bariatric surgery, changing from the lap band to the sleeve or gastric bypass.
Once this newer procedure has been performed, patient outcomes (weight loss) rival those who had the sleeve gastrectomy performed as the first bariatric procedure.
Some people are reluctant to change from the lap band to another weight loss surgery solution. I remind them that the metabolic effect (naturally-occuring hormonal weight loss) can be ignited from a newer surgical weight loss solution, which is well worth the effort.
If you band isn’t working, let it go.
Get something that will work better for you in the long-term, either the sleeve or gastric bypass.
Achieving this goal will be a two-part process:
First, we’ll remove the band and excess scar tissue. A few months later, we will perform the gastric sleeve (VSG) or gastric bypass operation. The time and care devoted to this 2-step process will provide the most successful surgical outcome and metabolic effect.
Thanks for watching. If you have a question about the gastric band, or any bariatric operation, leave your comment before and I’ll be sure to respond.