Lap Band Revision Shows a Bariatric Surgeon's Expertise in More Ways than One

LOS ANGELES, June 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- A lap band revision procedure requires a tremendous amount of expertise to pull off, but not all of the skills involved are necessarily what one would associate with a top surgeon. Yes, it is a delicate undertaking requiring tremendous dexterity, intelligence, and medical know-how, but it also requires a doctor of great sensitivity and understanding. Renowned bariatric surgeon Dr. Michael Feiz has been performing lap band conversions to sleeve gastrectomy in Marina del Rey, on countless patients in Beverly Hills, and throughout Southern California with great success. As a leader in the use of minimally invasive laparoscopic procedures, Dr. Feiz's tremendous technical skill has been crucial, but so has his understanding of the challenges faced by patients who require follow-up procedures. He has also been at the forefront of understanding why certain techniques may work better for some people than others and has helped many patients make the lap band vs. sleeve gastrectomy decision.

Patients who have undergone weight loss procedures only to face disappointing results are obviously in a very challenging position. Many blame themselves and may be tempted to give up their dream of a healthier and happier new life without severe obesity. Dr. Feiz understands that, while patients do need to work at weight loss even with the help of a bariatric operation, the fact of the matter is that not every patient responds the same way to treatment. Specifically, while lap bands are often highly effective, the results are not always completely predictable. At the same time, he has also seen that lap band to sleeve conversions have been showing an extremely consistent pattern of success.

Dr. Feiz has been encouraged by an increasing amount of data that backs up his anecdotal observations that gastric sleeve procedures tend to be extremely effective because they work in two distinct ways. First, as with the lap band, the operation greatly limits the available area of the stomach, thereby significantly reducing an individual's appetite and ability to overeat. However, unlike the lap band, sleeve gastrectomy removes approximately 75 to 85 percent of the stomach. This includes the portion of the stomach that appears to be responsible for the production of a hormone called ghrelin, which is believed to be largely responsible for the feelings of appetite that make long-term weight loss all but impossible for so many obese individuals.

Make no mistake, there is no easy way out of severe obesity, even with the help of a successful surgery. One more reason Dr. Feiz has achieved such a strong record fighting obesity is the degree of careful follow-up and assistance he provides to ensure that patients continue to work at forging a new relationship with food well after their recovery period. It seems clear that Dr. Feiz's uniquely well-rounded understanding of the challenges facing his patients is at least as important to his outstanding record of success as his widely acknowledged medical skill.

For further information, please call 800-868-5946 or visit www.drfeiz.com.

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SOURCE Dr. Feiz and Associates