More surgical options for weight loss are available now than ever before.
With today's technology, a wide variety of treatments exist for those looking to lose a significant amount of weight. More and more patients are turning to operations such as gastric band surgery or the more recent gastric sleeve surgery.
Types
One of the most common weight loss operations is gastric-band surgery, also known as lap band surgery. Gastric sleeve surgery, which was first used in 2002, is also growing in popularity but is mainly used as a preliminary surgery for patients deemed too unhealthy for other bariatric surgeries, with a second operation, usually a gastric bypass, to follow.
Function
Gastric sleeve surgery involves the removal of 60 percent of the stomach, resulting in a sleeve-like appearance. Gastric band surgery connects a balloon to a band around the upper section of the stomach. When the balloon inflates, the band tightens, restricting the amount of food that reaches the stomach.
Cost
Gastric band surgery typically costs anywhere from $14,000 to $18,000, while gastric sleeve surgeries are around $10,000 each.
Risks
Gastric band surgery comes with several potential problems, such as the band moving or slipping after the surgery, requiring a follow-up procedure. Dangers involved with the gastric sleeve procedure include bleeding, pneumonia or infection.
Considerations
Gastric sleeve surgery is likely to result in about 40 to 60 percent of excess weight being lost in the first two years, and up to 50-80 percent if gastric bypass surgery follows. Lap band surgery typically results in about a 40 to 50 percent excess weight lost.
Tags: band surgery, sleeve surgery, gastric sleeve, about percent, about percent excess, band surgery typically