Archive for the ‘Bariatric Surgery’ Category

There are many types of bariatric surgery; the most common types are gastric banding and gastric bypass. Laparoscopic, or lap band surgery is one of the safest forms of all bariatric surgeries as the surgery is performed laparoscopically, meaning that the surgeon makes small incisions and uses a camera to manipulate tiny surgical instruments. There is no large, long incision to leave an unsightly scar. Usually a patient will end up with several tiny little circular scars which are barely noticeable.

Lap band bariatric surgery is generally less painful, patients have shorter recovery times and there is less chance of complications. All surgeries have risks however, including lap band surgery. While some surgical risks are common for everyone, such as an allergic reaction to the anesthesia, others risks are  specific to a persons per-existing conditions. No one should have bariatric surgery unless they fully understand all the risks and they feel the benefits of the surgery outweigh the risks.

The potential risks of lap band bariatric surgery should also be weighed against the risk of remaining obese. There are very definite risks to remaining overweight such as developing type II diabetes. The benefits to be obtained from bariatric surgery are great but it is a personal decision to be made between patient and surgeon. No one should ever be pressured into the surgery.