Posts Tagged ‘LAP-BAND benefits’

Adjustable Gastric Band: Benefits of the Laparoscopic Technique

Saturday, April 24th, 2010

docsthumbsupMany people have heard about the Adjustable Gastric Band (LAP-BAND® or REALIZE® Band) — the system that causes weight loss by restricting the amount of food that can be consumed — but few actually know how the procedure is performed.

If you have considered weight loss surgery, it may stick in the back of your mind only as a last resort. Most people think of surgery as dangerous and invasive, but the truth is that the laparoscopic technique makes this procedure far less traumatic or risky than typical large-incision surgeries. Thanks to this minimally invasive laparoscopic approach, the procedure can be performed in just 30 minutes – 1 hour, and patients enjoy less post-operative pain and quicker recovery. There’s no cutting of the stomach, and the procedure is full reversible.

Here’s how it works:

Your skilled Adjustable Gastric Band surgeon will make very small incisions (about 1 cm) in the abdominal area. A tiny camera called a laparoscope guides your surgeon, and he is able to complete the steps without directly viewing the upper stomach treatment area.

During the Adjustable Gastric Band procedure, a small pouch is created in the upper stomach for the purpose of limiting food intake. There’s no stapling involved, and the Band can be adjusted to fit the specific needs of the patient. The result is a new stomach pouch that is highly effective for food control, along with a small outlet that slows digestion by controlling how fast food reaches the stomach and intestines.

When an adjustment is needed, saline solution is used to inflate or deflate the pouch to achieve the desired food amount restriction — in a nonsurgical session that takes only about 15 minutes. Patients will notice they feel full faster after the surgery and need to consume less at each sitting. With the help of your surgeon and your nutritionist, you can maximize the Band’s effectiveness and experience incredible weight loss results over time.

More About the Band

If you are severely overweight with an unhealthy Body Mass Index (BMI), the Band procedure can dramatically improve your health and give you a new lease on life. For more information on the laparoscopic technique and a personal weight loss analysis, please contact Lap Band Rockies in Denver today.

—Lindsey Kesel, Bariatric Consultant

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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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LAP-BAND®: Weighing the Benefits and Risks

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

Lap-Band Weighing the Benefits and Risks

Lap-Band Weighing the Benefits and Risks

If you’re searching for a successful, long-term weight loss solution, the LAP-BAND® procedure may be on your list of options. But is the adjustable gastric band right for you, and do the benefits outweigh the risks? If you are considering this avenue to weight loss, it is a good idea to thoroughly research the benefits as well as the risks before making a decision.

Benefits of LAP-BAND®

The most obvious benefit is the large amount of weight loss that many patients have experienced. Adjustable gastric bands have enjoyed a very high success rate, helping patients beat obesity and related health conditions like diabetes. Even small amounts of weight loss can cause vast improvement in total health. View some of the weight loss surgery photos from Lap Band Rockies.

One of the most attractive benefits is LAP-BAND®’s affordable weight loss surgery cost — a wise investment when compared with the lifetime medical costs obesity can create.

Centers like Lap Band Rockies provide valuable weight loss surgery support, which helps patients maintain a positive attitude and take the necessary nutrition and fitness steps to reach a healthy Body Mass Index.

Risks of LAP-BAND®

As with all types of surgery, there are risks that patients should be aware of before consenting.

After weight loss surgery, patients must be motivated to stay on track with healthy lifestyle choices. Adjustable gastric band patients must have realistic expectations, and understand the procedure does not guarantee a healthy weight. Without behavioral modification, diet, and exercise, weight loss may not occur.

Potential patients should respect the guidelines for surgery, following through with the procedure only if they meet these guidelines: “If you have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or greater, or 35 or greater with hypertension, sleep apnea, joint pains, or 30 or greater with Type II diabetes, you may be a appropriate candidate for the LAP-BAND® procedure.”

Surgical complications may occur, including infection, band slippage, and stomach obstruction. Set up a weight loss surgery consultation with a skilled adjustable gastric band surgeon to discuss your risks and learn how you can minimize these risks.

If you are considering the adjustable gastric band procedure, get all the answers you need to make an informed decision. Please contact Dr. Gerald Kirshenbaum at Lap Band Rockies in Denver to set up your weight loss consultation and orientation.

—Lindsey Kesel, Bariatric Consultant

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