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Gastric Band Surgery – The Truth About Gastric Band Surgery

gastric-band-surgery

If you are thinking about weight loss surgery, it is important to consider all the options to ensure that you are picking the best options for your needs. Whether you have tried with dieting and exercising previously or are looking for a helping hand then taking the time to read up about the procedures is important.

There are so many treatments to have today – whether that’s breast enlargement or hair loss surgery – and choosing the right procedure can be tough. Here we will take a look at the gastric band to see if it is what you are looking for.

WHAT IT IS?

Working by reducing stomach capacity, using gastric bands is a procedure that leads to you feeling full quicker and, ultimately, eating less. Placed at the top of your stomach, this band is a circular balloon which creates a pouch that fills up and slowly passes food through to continue the digestive system.

Able to be removed at any time, a gastric band is one of the safest types of weight loss surgery and tends to be offered if:

You have high blood pressure, diabetes or another medical condition with a body mass index (BMI) of 35 to 40, or
Your BMI is more than 40.

HOW IT WORKS

It all begins when you meet with a surgeon and discuss with them any questions that you have regarding risks, benefits and alternatives. What will happen then is the doctor will work you through pros and cons before outlining what is needed to prepare for the operation.

When you are going for the surgery, this tends to be done with a general anaesthesia so you are asleep during the operation and you are told to fast for six hours prior to the procedure. This is followed by a one night stay, before you are taken home to start your work.

The operation is one that uses keyhole surgery and takes an hour to do. It is a case of numerous small cuts to the abdomen so that the surgeon can place the band around the stomach. Once it is in place then the cuts are stitched up and your pouch can be changed and altered at any time by the surgeon – it begins empty.

Sometimes pain-relief tablets are required, and you should be aware that this is the point when you can only eat small meals. Initially it’s a case of pureed foods, liquid and vitamin supplements. Add to this the need for a more active lifestyle and you’re almost on your way back to a normal life.

Sounds simple enough, right? And, it is, but many people have preconceived ideas about gastric bands – and these are often one of the seven myths. Read on for more.

MYTHS

1. It’s a miracle cure –
Some see the surgery as a simple way to lose weight without changing their lifestyle. This isn’t the case. A change to a healthier lifestyle is imperative to body change, but when this is combined with a gastric band there are attainable goals to shoot for.

2. Unhealthy weight loss –
Others like to question whether people lose too much weight with these bands. Losing too much quickly is never healthy, and using a band, many surgeons aim for a two to three pound weekly loss.

3. Mal-nutrition –
It is known that many doctors over supplements and vitamins to patients following surgery but that’s not to say that you can’t receive proper nutrition naturally.

4. Liquids forever –
While it is true that super-sized meals are off the agenda, solid foods can be eaten with a gastric band following the four weeks of liquid diet during your recovery.

5. The weight will come back –
To some, it’s hard to see how they will keep the weight off once it has gone. The truth is that this is a lifelong commitment. Using a gastric band helps people to get to a foundation point whereby they are able to see a stronger body image and will be more committed to sticking to a lifestyle change.

6. Follow-up care is a waste of time and money –
Once the surgeons have done their job, in terms of reaching the weight you targeted, then you need to be sure that you are following the right line for maintained weight loss. Having someone to discuss this with can be crucial.