On the surface, it seems that the cause of obesity has a simple explanation: If the calories you consume, are more than the calories you burn as energy through physical activity, then you’ll gain weight. But like many things, the simple explanation is often just not enough.
Genetics: Instructs the body to respond to changes in its environment. Studies have shown variants in genes that may contribute to obesity by increasing hunger and food intake.
Medical: Some endocrine disorders, diseases, and medications can also cause weight gain. Your chances of being overweight increases if one or both of your parents are obese. Heredity also strongly influences where you carry weight.
Physical Activity: Healthy behaviors include a healthy diet and regular physical activity. It is important to maintain an energy balance of the number of calories consumed from foods and beverages with the number of calories the body uses for activity plays a key role in preventing excess weight gain.
Diet: A poor diet and high consumption of calories from added sugars, simple carbohydrates, and fried foods can directly contribute to obesity
All-causes of death (mortality)
High blood pressure (Hypertension)
High LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, or high levels of triglycerides (Dyslipidemia)
Type 2 diabetes
Coronary heart disease
Stroke
Gallbladder disease
Osteoarthritis (a breakdown of cartilage and bone within a joint)
Sleep apnea and breathing problems
Some cancers (endometrial, breast, colon, kidney, gallbladder, and liver)
Low quality of life
Mental illness such as clinical depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders
Body pain and difficulty with physical functioning
Standard criteria for Bariatric Surgery:
– Being 100 pounds over ideal weight
– Body Mass Index (BMI) Greater than 30
– Weight-related health problems
– Inability to lose weight through diet, medication, and exercise
This procedure has become the most popular over the years for weight loss. It is performed by removing approximately 80% of the stomach leaving the remaining stomach a tubular pouch resembling a “sleeve”
How it Works
The Sleeve Gastrectomy works through several mechanisms. First, the new stomach pouch will hold a considerably smaller volume reducing the amount of food, and calories that can be consumed.
In addition, the portion of the stomach that has been removed is responsible for producing the hormone that causes hunger without this hormone appetite is greatly reduced.
Benefits
The sleeve is not reversible however to the patients who have undergone this procedure the benefits are worth it. Typically patients lose about 60-70% of their excess body weight. Medical conditions associated with morbid obesity such as hypertension, diabetes, sleep apnea, cholesterol, and heart disease are commonly resolved with weight loss.
There have been short term studies that have shown improvement or remission of diabetes, as a result of weight loss.
For a safe and successful surgery, significant changes to diet and lifestyle are needed to lose weight after bariatric surgery. It is important you continue to follow the diet and exercise guidelines given to you by your surgeon. You will be required to come in for follow-up visits to monitor your progress and evaluate your health after your bariatric surgery.
How it Works
Gastric Bypass shrinks the size of your stomach so you will not be able to eat as much as you used to. This procedure is known as a restrictive operation as it restricts food intake, as well as the amount of calories and nutrients the body absorbs. With the gastric bypass there is a change to the hormones your intestines produce which will help you feel fuller longer contributing to appetite suppression. This procedure is irreversible and changes the way your body digests food.
Benefits
Gastric bypass enhances weight loss in morbidly obese people who were unable to achieve long term success with any other weight loss attempts. By changing your gastrointestinal anatomy the end result is the reduction in the desire to eat and in the frequency in eating. In addition, sometimes after bariatric surgery energy increases resulting in more calories being burned unlike dietary weight loss, surgical weight loss has a greater chance in lasting due to an appropriate energy balance that is created. When significant weight loss has been achieved defects in fat metabolism are reduced, you will find yourself engaging in more physical activity improving your body’s ability to burn fat. This then leads to a more positive personal attitude decreasing stress levels.
Lap Band Revision
The Lap Band (aka adjustable gastric band) is an inflatable silicone band that is placed on the upper portion of the stomach creating a small pouch above the band. When adjustments are made to the band, it increases or decreases the size of the passageway between the upper and lower parts of the stomach. The purpose of this band is to slow down and limit the amount of food you can eat at any given time.
Complications of Lap Band
Lap Band is not only minimally invasive it is completely reversible. However, the majority of the patients who have had this procedure have not had good results due to the many disadvantages and complications of the gastric band. Studies have shown that more than half of patients who have the gastric band have them removed due to inadequate weight loss or complications after 7-10 years.
Common Complications include:
Heartburn or Reflux: After Lap Band Surgery some patients may develop heartburn or esophagitis.
Band Erosion/Port Infection: Although a rare complication, Gastric Band erosion causes long-term port infection in most cases.
Food Intolerance: Some patients may develop difficulty swallowing, severe vomiting and nausea, others may even throw up several times a day
Band Slippage: This may cause severe nausea and pain requiring emergency surgical revision or removal of the gastric band.
Inadequate Weight Loss: Even though the Gastric Band initially has reasonable weight loss it is much more common for patients to regain weight than patients who’ve had the gastric sleeve or gastric bypass.
Esophageal Dilation: With restriction from the Gastric Band food can get stuck in the esophagus which in the long run may cause esophageal dilation.
Because there are many complications, we do not perform Lap Band surgeries, however, if you are experiencing any complications due to your lap band our bariatric surgeons specialize in both the removal and conversion of Lap Bands into other weight loss treatments.
Advantage of Lap Band conversion to Gastric Sleeve or Gastric Bypass
If you are having intolerance or complications of the gastric band, such as difficulty swallowing, vomiting, nausea, or erosion, immediate removal of your gastric band offers immediate relief. However, it is important to remember that without converting to another bariatric procedure it is possible to regain all the weight after Lap Band removal. To Schedule, a consultation with our Bariatric Surgeon call us at (818) 243-9999
If you are ready to take the next step to a healthier lifestyle we are here to help! Our Insurance coordinators have helped thousands of patients get approved for weight loss surgery. One of our specialists will guide you through each step of your weight loss journey.
Call us at 818-243-9999 and one of our experts will collect your information to verify your insurance.
We will work with your insurance company to verify your coverage.
You can expect to hear from a member of our team in 1 to 2 days to discuss your coverage details and schedule a consultation.
