Crucial Things You Need to Know about Lap-band Surgery

Without a doubt, obesity is a serious concern. In an article published by ABC News Australia, it was pointed out that Sydney only has a little more than 14% obese individuals. In fact, they have the leanest population in entire Australia. Then again, despite this low number, the same news article explained the growing obesity rate in the country. 

This alarming increase in the overall obesity rate is one of the reasons why lap band surgery in Sydney is one of the most in-demand services and the most searched keyword online. 

When a person is considered obese?

Based on medical standards, a person is considered obese if he has a BMI of more than 30 kilograms per square meter. One of the cornerstones of obesity treatment is a lifestyle change. However, as more and more people are having a hard time sticking to an active lifestyle, surgical procedures to fight obesity are gaining ground. One of the more common obesity surgical treatments is what we call gastric banding, more popularly referred to as lap-band surgery. 

Gastric banding: What is it?

LAGB or laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding is a kind of surgical procedure that includes the placement of a movable belt around the patient’s upper stomach part by a laparoscope. This band is silicone made and can be squinched by putting in saline to load up the band. The said band is also connected to a port located under the patient’s abdominal skin. The port is then utilized to remove or add more saline into the band. 

LAGB functions by restricting the patient’s stomach size and the amount of solid it can keep. It also decelerates the passage of food to one’s intestine. It then sends a signal to the brain from the patient’s gut to feel a sense of satiety and fullness even if he is consuming less food. 

Getting to know what lap bands are

Lap band is the name of a device made by Allergan Inc. used in gastric banding surgeries. This term is usually interchanged in the lay community with gastric banding. Currently, the Lap band comes in various models and sizes. Other reputed companies have also come up with their versions of bands like Ethicon’s REALIZE, Midband, and Heliogast. 

Who are eligible for lab band systems?

As a general rule, patients who are eligible for LAGB should have a BMI of more than 40 kilograms per square meter. This means they should have an ideal weight of more than 45 kilograms. If a person with a BMI of 35 to 40 kilograms per square meter has a weight-related problematic medical condition like diabetes and hypertension, he is still eligible for LAGB. 

If you search online for “lap band surgery Sydney,” you can see that a vast majority of programs and surgeons want to take note of a series of unsuccessful weight loss with conventional approaches. This is to highlight the need for a more aggressive and sophisticated approach to weight loss. LAGB should only be performed to patients over 18 years of age. As an added requirement, before any patient can undergo the procedure, they should manifest a full understanding of the entire process, along with the changes they need to introduce in their lifestyles. 

The Takeaway 

When the person has a hard time losing weight on his own, giving up should never be his option. Instead of accepting his weight as his fate, he should turn to experts who can guide him in his weight loss journey.