For nearly every bariatric patient, laparoscopic
surgery is a safe, less invasive alternative to risky
open surgery. Good candidates usually have the following
qualifications:
The ability to commit to specific lifestyle changes
A Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or greater
A Body Mass Index (BMI) of 35-39 with co-morbid conditions
Little success with conventional weight loss techniques
The lack of substance dependency including tobacco
For Lap-BandŽ Surgery, the surgeon
makes small incisions for insertion
of the laparoscopic instruments.
An adjustable silicone-banding device
is fastened around the upper end
of the stomach to create a smaller
stomach reservoir. Patients simply
feel full sooner and therefore eat
less. This is currently the only
bariatric procedure that can be
adjusted without follow-up surgery.
