How Does Lap Band Surgery Affect Appetite?
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What is a Lap Band?
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A laparoscopic adjustable gastric band, also called a lap band, is surgically implanted ring that binds the upper part of the stomach in order to reduce appetite and instigate weight loss. Lap band surgery is one of the more popular types of bariatric surgery (surgery intended to treat obesity) but even so, it is a procedure that should only be used as a last resort. Most doctors will only perform the surgery on obese patients with a body mass index around 40 or higher who have tried and failed at other weight loss methods such as dieting and exercise. Certain conditions will often make a candidate inoperable, such as drug dependency, psychological problems, or allergic reactions to the lap band.
Lap Band Function
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Lap band surgery is popular because it is an affective way to reduce appetite without cutting the stomach itself. In the procedure, a band is cinched around the upper part of the stomach, creating a small pocket above the stomach, and a restricted amount of space for food to travel from the pocket into the rest of the stomach where it will be digested. When a person with a lap band eats, this small pocket fills up much more quickly than their whole stomach would, but since the flow of food into the stomach is restricted by the band, the person will feel full after the pocket is filled with food. This enables people to stop eating after consuming less food because it tricks their brain into thinking they are full.
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Results and Benefits
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Lap band surgery is usually very effective in reducing appetite and instigating weight loss. Patients usually lose up to a pound per week after the surgery, and sometimes more, depending on their level of physical activity. There are some negative side effects, such as band slippage, erosion, or the development of ulcers, but the surgery has also been associated with lower rates of depression and better sleep. Perhaps the greatest advantage of lap band surgery is that it is completely and easily reversible--the band simply can be clipped off and removed it if its creating problems, or if the patient has achieved their goal weight, although leaving the band in can help prevent a reversion back into weight gain.
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