Released on: February 26, 2008, 10:08 pm

Press Release Author: Deepthi Kumar

Industry: Healthcare

Press Release Summary: Adjustable Gastric Banding or Lap Band surgery (Bariatric
Surgery) helps obese patients to reduce their over weight. It is an inflatable band
placed around the stomach with the help of keyhole surgery where the size of the
stomach is reduced using a band so that only small amount of meals can be taken and
feel fuller soon.

Press Release Body: Life Weight Loss Centre performs adjustable gastric banding
surgery for over weight people to restrict their weight. Adjustable gastric banding
is a form of restrictive weight loss surgery designed for obesity patients, in which
an inflatable band is placed around the stomach with the help of keyhole surgery.
Its tubing is attached to an access port which is placed on the muscle of the tummy.

The port is used later to inflate the small balloon inside the band to narrow the
stomach gradually to stop patients eating big meals. This procedure is the least
minimally invasive with the least risk factors associated with this surgery.

Main advantage of gastric banding surgery is, this procedure does not change the
shape of the stomach or bowel and the band can be removed at any time and deflated
at any time allowing the stomach to go to its original size and shape. The band
helps patients lose 50-60% of their excess weight.


Gastric banding does not cause any nutritional/metabolic problems provided patients
take vitamin and mineral supplements regularly and the band does not interfere with
a baby's development during pregnancy.

Possible side effects

 Slippage - considered a surgical emergency usually due to constant vomiting
as a result of eating wrong types of food. The lower stomach slips through the band
and causes complete blockage of the stomach. The patient usually experiences severe
pain and is unable to even drink water. This complication has occurred in 0.66% of
our patients.

 Gastric band erosion - The band erodes into the stomach resulting in the
patient being able to eat normally with the resulting weight gain. This requires the
removal and replacement of the band. Dr. Durmush has never had this complication in
his series. Its incidence is normally less than 1%

 Tubing problems - Commonest problem usually fixed with minor surgery. Its
incidence is 5% in our series.

 Leaking band - we never experienced this complication.

 Conversion of laparoscopic surgery to an open procedure. This is usually
done as a result of intraoperative complications such as bleeding, organ injury and
excessive scarring from previous surgeries. We have had less than 1% occurrence in
our series.


Web Site: http://www.lifeweightloss.com.au

Contact Details: Life Weight Loss Centre
171-173 Macquarie street
Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: 02 9826 4111
1300 669 259
Fax: 02 9826 4113