3 Things to Consider When Choosing Between Lap Band and Sleeve Gastrectomy Procedures
While patients of bariatric surgeon Dr. Michael Feiz have had success with both procedures, there are several key differences that prospective patients should consider.
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Over the last decade it's become increasingly clear that the benefits of bariatric surgery far outweigh the risks. Study after study has shown that weight loss surgery gives patients the tools they need to make the lifestyle and dietary changes necessary to lose weight. Amongst all of the available weight loss procedures, the Lap Band and the Sleeve Gastrectomy surgery are the most popular with both patients and surgeons because they are effective, but very safe as well. This is especially the case when patients go to a highly respected and experienced bariatric surgeon like Michael Feiz, M.D., F.A.C.S. Based in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills, Dr. Feiz takes an individualized approach to surgery, and makes sure that each one of his patients has selected the surgery that is right for their particular situation. Here are several things that patients need to consider when deciding about bariatric surgery with their doctor.
- Follow-ups and Reversibility – One of the main differences between the Lap Band and the sleeve gastrectomy procedure is that the Lap Band requires implanting a foreign object in the body. This means that Lap Band patients need to schedule a number of follow up visits with their doctor after their surgery. While it is typical for visits to be quite frequent in the weeks and months immediately following the surgery, patients only need to see a doctor every three to six months in the years thereafter. Yet, because the surgery requires implanting something in the body rather than changing it, the Lap Band procedure is completely reversible while the sleeve procedure is permanent.
- Speed of Weight Loss – One of the biggest advantages of the sleeve procedure is that it is proven to help patients lose weight more quickly. Yet, many studies suggest that several years down the line, the weight lost through Lap Band surgery eventually catches up to the total weight lost by gastric sleeve patients. Because the gastric sleeve procedure helps patients lose their weight faster, it is often recommended for obese patients who are already living with dangerous health effects of obesity like heart disease or diabetes. The faster patients shed the pounds, the quicker they are able to move away from obesity's potentially deadly effects.
- Ghrelin Reduction – Both procedures help patients lose weight by limiting the capacity of the stomach, but the sleeve procedure also boasts some important hormonal benefits. One of the reasons why we get hunger cravings is that the stomach release a hormone called Ghrelin that travels to the brain and makes us feel hungry. The production of this hormone tends to increase as we lose weight. The part of the stomach that is removed during the sleeve procedure is an area that releases some of this ghrelin, so by removing it, less of this hormone ends up traveling to the brain after surgery and sabotaging our weight loss efforts.
Both of these procedures have benefits that far outweigh the risks, but one option may be better for certain patients than others. To find out more about these procedures and the outstanding work done by Dr. Feiz, you can visit the Dr. Feiz and Associates website, or call their offices at (800) 868-5946 today!
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SOURCE Dr. Feiz and Associates
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