New York Bariatric Surgeons Seeing More Lap Bands Converting to Sleeve Gastrecromy

March 29, 2013 - PRLog -- Data shows that more people are turning to bariatric surgery as a tool to overcome obesity. In the United States, it is estimated that about 220,000 people undergo a surgical weight loss procedure annually. Most will lose between 30 to 50 percent of excess weight as a result. This year, New York bariatric surgeons are seeing another trend develop. Patients are opting to exchange their adjustable gastric band, or lap band, device for a permanent solution to weight control – sleeve gastrectomy.

These are two very different forms of bariatric surgeries, however; the result for both is the same – altering the size of the stomach. A smaller stomach takes in less food at one time. That forced reduction in caloric intake leads to weight loss. Both of these surgical options offers long-term weight management, so why the change? To understand why New Yorkers are getting rid of the band, you must know more about each type of procedure.

What is Lap Band?

The adjustable gastric band is an inflatable device placed over the top section of the stomach. The design slows food consumption by restricting the opening that leads into the stomach pouch that holds and digests food. The goal is to limit food volume. Patients must adhere to a strict diet regiment after the procedure to see weight loss benefits.

Band placement is done laparoscopic surgery. This is a reversible option, but requires another surgery to remove the band. Although the success rate is promising for patients that follow the diet plan properly, lap band does not come without some issues.

What is Sleeve Gastrectomy?

Sleeve gastrectomy is weight loss surgery that is becoming more popular in the US. The result is similar to a lap band procedure, but the method is quite different. With gastrectomy, surgeons reshape the stomach. This reshaping reduces the size of the pouch by about 25 percent. After surgery, the organ looks like a sleeve, hence the name of the procedure.

A sleeve gastrectomy is a minimally invasive routine done laparoscopically. The actual procedure usually takes about an hour and patients remain in the hospital for a few days. Total down time is approximately two weeks.

Why the Change?

New York surgeons are getting more and more requests to convert the lap band procedure to a sleeve gastrectomy (http://sleeveny.com/default). Part of the reason is success rate. The gastrectomy offers results comparable to a gastric bypass. The weight loss of patients with the sleeve is greater than that of those only using the band.

One downside of a surgery like gastric bypass is the resection of the small intestine. With sleeve gastrectomy, patients can see the improved benefits of gastric bypass even though surgeons leave the small intestine intact. A normal small intestine means less risk of complications like nutritional deficiencies or dumping syndrome.

Ultimately, the main reason might be the device itself. A lap band procedure implants a foreign object into the body. There is no way of knowing the long-term effects of keeping a silicone device on the stomach for years. Sleeve gastrectomy is a more natural approach to dealing with obesity. It does not use a device. Doctors simply change the size of the stomach surgically.

Sleeve gastrectomy is a permanent solution for weight control. Once the alteration is made to the stomach pouch, it is done. There is no need for a second invasive procedure to remove a device or to enhance the routine. Obesity is a medical problem that increases the risk of chronic illness. Sleeve gastrectomy is a one answer to sustainable weight control.