Archive for February, 2010

The Benefits of a Post-Surgical LAP-BAND® Support Group

Sunday, February 28th, 2010

Business people standing with hands togetherAfter weight loss surgery, it can be extremely challenging to stay focused on your weight loss goals. When you have the Adjustable Gastric Band (LAP-BAND® or Realize Band™) performed at Lap Band Rockies in Denver, you get the benefit of a post-surgical support team, a face-to-face support group, and answers to your questions when you need them most. It is this strong commitment to ensuring Band patients are doing the right things after surgery that has led to so many success stories.

Support and Success Go Hand in Hand

Weight loss surgery support is critical to short- and long-term success after a weight loss procedure. Statistics have shown that a support network can have a very positive effect on patients who have undergone any type of weight loss surgery.

A support group is a wonderful way to hear what others are going through, share your experiences, and use your peers as a sounding board for ideas about the weight loss process. Participation in a post-surgical group can also help you initiate and manage important dietary changes, stay active with fitness routines, and work on daily behavioral modifications. The encouragement you receive during your time with a support group can be a very motivating factor in your success. Psychologist Dr. Susan Silver leads this group (www.drsusansilver.com).

Find Out More About Post-Surgical Support

During your consultation and pre-operative visits, Dr. Kirshenbaum and his team help you to learn all you can about the Adjustable Gastric Band procedure and answer your LAP-BAND® questions. At this time, the team will also provide information on their in-house support group and the benefits of interaction with other patients who have had the Band surgery.

Dr. Gerald Kirshenbaum, along with an experienced nutritionist and psychologist, will help you plan your post-surgical lifestyle changes. A support group can help you stay motivated and give you that extra push you need to gather momentum and achieve your goals.

To learn more about the Adjustable Gastric Band and the Lap Band Rockies post-surgical support network, please contact Dr. Kirshenbaum today. Our team looks forward to helping you reach a healthy weight and begin a healthy lifestyle.

—Lindsey Kesel, Bariatric Consultant

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More LAP-BAND® Success Stories

Sunday, February 21st, 2010

Big group of young jumping people.The Adjustable Gastric Band (LAP-BAND® or Realize Band™) has helped countless people across the country lose large amounts of weight over time. The Band, in conjunction with behavioral modification, diet and exercise, and weight loss surgery support, has proven to be a very successful way for many men and women to deal with the problem of obesity.

In August of 2009, we shared a few patient success stories in the blog “Patient Perspectives: How LAP-BAND® Can Change Your Life.” The Lap Band Rockies team would like to share some additional profiles of happy Band patients whose lives were drastically improved after having this incredible surgery.

  • “Although my weight did keep me from doing a few physically active things with my family, I have found that it was the emotional and psychological damage that my obesity caused that hurt the most. I would use my weight as a reason not to go out with my family. Since I have lost over 70 lbs in this short time, I have come to realize that I was holding myself hostage. It wasn’t my weight that was keeping me from socializing. It was how I felt about myself because of my weight. It was how uncomfortable I felt in my own skin and how uncomfortable I felt with how I looked. Having the gastric band procedure has helped me change a lot of my habits. It has helped me change what I eat and how I look at food. I have learned that I feel better when I eat healthy food and that portion control is just as important as food choices. I learned that it took me about 3 months for this to become a lifestyle.” —Julie Dearinger
  • “It took me approximately 1 year to lose the 100+ pounds, and I have kept that weight off now for over 1 year! IT HAS CHANGED MY LIFE AND I HAVE NO REGRETS! I cannot imagine a more wonderful doctor and staff with which to have taken this journey.
  • I had struggled with my weight most of my adult life and had tried everything I could think of to lose weight. I would often have small short-term successes, but never anything long lasting. I began to look into LAP-BAND® as an alternative and was even considering going to Mexico to have the surgery. In doing my research I heard great things regarding Dr. Kirshenbaum on various LAP-BAND® blogs. I decided to call the office and the process began with a wonderful, kind, and patient staff!” —R. Lee Wilson
  • “I count myself lucky to have had the surgery and begun my weight loss journey because had I not I don’t believe I would be working. I believe my life would have been quickly limited bearing the weight and knowing the condition of my spine. I went forward with a sense of urgency to get banded. I have been very happy with my band and knowing that I am:
    • Still working a full time job.
    • Full of energy.
    • Able to proceed with a rehabilitation plan.
    • Achieving goals rather than looking at years of recovery or an unknown future.
    • Appreciating all the things I will do with my baby grandson.
    • Finding strength within myself I didn’t know I had.
    • Feeling pretty.” —Patty Reeves

Read the full patient profiles here.

If you would like to find out more about how the Adjustable Gastric Band can promote weight loss and discuss LAP-BAND® cost, please contact Dr. Gerald Kirshenbaum at Lap Band Rockies today.

Dr. Kirshenbaum is happy to share the team’s weight loss surgery photos with you, review more patient success stories, and discuss your potential for reaching a healthy weight.

—Lindsey Kesel, Bariatric Consultant

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How the Adjustable Gastric Band Helps With Weight Control

Monday, February 15th, 2010

drk21710Men and women who have a significant amount of extra pounds often just need the right catalyst to put them on the path to weight loss. The Adjustable Gastric Band (LAP-BAND® or Realize Band™) has succeeded in helping obese people build momentum where many other methods of weight loss have failed.

How It Works

The Adjustable Gastric Band works by satisfying hunger with a reduced volume of food. The reduced food intake, combined with behavioral modification, diet, and exercise, is what makes patients able to lose weight. The Band is implanted using a laparoscopic technique, so there is no cutting, stapling, or stomach re-routing involved.

Compared to other obesity treatment options, the Adjustable Gastric Band has a very high success rate — both for initial weight loss and long-term healthy weight maintenance.

Customizable Results

The Band is the only adjustable weight loss device available today, a true advantage that lets patients control their rates of food intake (and, consequently, weight loss) based on individual needs. Band adjustments are performed as needed, in the office. During the adjustment process, a needle inserted into the access port is used to tailor the diameter of the band through the addition or removal of saline.

The Band is FDA-approved and has been performed on hundreds of thousands of patients worldwide. Although there are some risks, the Adjustable Gastric Band is a very safe out-patient procedure.

If You Are Serious About Weight Loss

Are you looking for an effective, lasting way to return to a healthy weight? Are you are interested in various types of weight loss surgery? Dr. Gerald Kirshenbaum and the Lap Band Rockies team can provide you with the answers you need to make an informed decision.

Please remember, the Adjustable Gastric Band is only recommended for people who have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or greater, or 35 or greater with hypertension, sleep apnea, or joint pain, or 30 or greater with Type II diabetes.

Dr. Kirshenbaum would be happy to give you a break down on the LAP-BAND® cost and discuss the results so you can compare it to alternative weight loss surgeries. You can also view a variety of weight loss surgery photos to see what a difference this method of weight loss can make. Let Lap Band Rockies help you get started today.

—Lindsey Kesel, Bariatric Consultant

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LAP-BAND® and Pregnancy

Saturday, February 6th, 2010

Pregnant examined by a doctor

We all know that being overweight can affect one’s health in many ways, including increased risk of heart disease. But women who are pregnant or trying to conceive should be aware that significant extra weight can endanger both mother and child. Expectant mothers who are severely overweight may face additional risks during pregnancy, as well as the labor and delivery process. Obese women are more likely to endure adverse conditions and events, including hypertension, preeclampsia, cesarean section delivery, gestational diabetes, and fetal growth abnormalities.

Healthy Weight Control, Healthy Pregnancy

Various studies have shown that maternal weight can have a direct effect on how much pre- and post-natal care is needed, length of hospitalization, and the cost of pregnancy-related care. With the help of the adjustable gastric band, expectant mothers can reduce their risks. Proper use and management of the band can be highly effective in helping pregnant women to control food intake during pregnancy and regulate the amount of weight they gain for a healthy, gradual increase.

Women who have LAP-BAND® surgery before becoming pregnant can get a head start on improving the odds of a healthy delivery. After weight loss surgery, the band can be adjusted throughout the pregnancy according to the mother’s and baby’s nutrition/caloric needs.

Positive Findings for Mothers With LAP-BAND®

In a study done at Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, Australia,1 a group of doctors managed and monitored LAP-BAND® placement in expectant mothers in an effort to successfully control healthy weight outcomes for mothers and babies. The group experienced no premature births, low birth weights, or cesarean births, and the complications were minimal. This study showed that the ability to adjust the band “allowed optimal control of maternal weight change in pregnancy and should help avoid the risks of excessive weight change.” Keep in mind that the LAP-BAND® alone does not guarantee successful, healthy weight management. Supervision by a physician and nutritional specialist, and other types of weight loss surgery support, are crucial for ensuring necessary vitamin and mineral intake (via food and supplementation) during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

At Lap Band Rockies, Dr. Kirshenbaum and his team help expectant mothers reach optimal health with the LAP-BAND® procedure and corresponding fitness and nutrition plans. If you are interested in learning more about how the adjustable gastric band can help women reduce risks and minimize complications during pregnancy, please contact Dr. Gerald Kirshenbaum at his Denver, Colorado center today.

 

Note: For women who are trying to conceive, weight loss has also been shown to have a positive effect on fertility. Ideally, obese women should aim to reach a healthy weight prior to pregnancy. You may be a good candidate for the adjustable gastric band if you have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or greater, or 35 or greater with hypertension, sleep apnea, joint pain, or 30 or greater with Type II diabetes.

—Lindsey Kesel, Bariatric Consultant

1. Dixon, John; Dixon, Maureen; O’Brien, Paul, “Pregnancy after LAP-BAND Surgery: Management of the Band to Achieve Healthy Weight Outcomes,” Obesity Surgery, 11, 2001, pp. 60 – 65.

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