One of the first questions patients ask about lap band surgery is how often they will need to come in to adjust the lap band and how they will know it’s time. Lap band surgery wraps a silicone band around the upper stomach and fills it as needed to tighten its hold on the upper stomach and restrict food consumption for optimal weight loss. The band is filled with saline solution or emptied to loosen it. Dr V. Kuzinkovas offers lap band surgery at Advanced Surgicare, and adjustment appointments are customized to your needs.
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Category: Lap Band
What Are Your Weight Loss Surgery Options? Comparing Obesity Procedures
Bariatric surgery is not a one-size-fits-all procedure; there are several types of weight loss surgery, and the right one for your needs depends on several factors, such as your current body mass index (BMI) and overall health. The most common procedures offered by Dr V Kuzinkovas at Advanced Surgicare include lap band surgery, sleeve gastrectomy, and gastric bypass. Our certified bariatric surgeon in Sydney discusses the candidacy requirements, procedure details, and results of each bariatric surgery below.
Read MoreLap Band Surgery: How Lap Band Surgery Is Performed and Adjusted
These days, patients have many options when it comes to weight-loss surgery. What makes lap band surgery different than other forms of bariatric surgery is that the size of the stomach can be adjusted. In this blog, Dr Kuzinkovas shares how he performs lap band surgery, as well as how he can easily adjust the band in the years following surgery.
Read MoreSurgeries for Obesity: Which of These Can Give You Back Your Life?
You can reach a healthy body size and lengthen your lifespan through weight loss surgery combined with good nutrition and regular exercise. Dr V. Kuzinkovas provides the highest quality surgical services to address obesity through various procedures. He believes every patient should be treated with compassion, dignity and looks forward to helping you determine the best surgery for your weight loss needs.
Read MoreFour Common Questions about Lap-Band Surgery
One of the weight loss procedures that Dr. V. Kuzinkovas receives a lot of questions about is Lap-Band surgery. He thought it would be wise to address the four most common questions about Lap-Band in a blog post. If you have additional questions about Lap-Band that aren’t covered in this post, please feel free to schedule an informational consultation with Dr. Kuzinkovas at Advanced Surgicare to discuss.
What is Lap-Band surgery?
The Lap-Band is a gastric banding device designed to limit food intake. During Lap-Band surgery, an adjustable silicone band is placed around the upper portion of the stomach. The band creates a small pouch to hold food, with a narrow passageway from the pouch to the lower, larger portion of the stomach.
Lap-Band surgery can be performed laparoscopically (through several small incisions) for a shorter recovery and greater patient comfort.
After surgery, the stomach holds less food, and the food passes from the pouch to the lower stomach and intestines much slower than normal. Because of these two factors, the patient feels fuller after eating less food. The result is rapid, steady weight loss.
Is the Lap-Band removable?
The Lap-Band is removable, should a complication arise after surgery. Sometimes it can be removed laparoscopically. If the band is removed, the stomach returns to its original shape. The band can also be tightened or loosened as needed, by adding or removing saline solution to the band through an injection port.
How much weight will I lose after surgery (and how quickly)?
Every patient is different, so it is difficult to say. Your weight loss will vary, depending on how committed to healthy diet and exercise habits you are. Also, whether the band is placed correctly can affect how much weight you lose. If it is too tight, you will lose too much weight quickly; if it is not tight enough, you may not lose enough weight.
Typically, Lap-Band patients lose 0.5 – 1 kg per week. The majority of weight loss occurs within the first year of surgery.
Am I a candidate for Lap-Band surgery?
Lap-Band candidacy is determined after a one-on-one consultation with Dr. Kuzinkovas. During your consultation, he will perform a physical examination, try to learn more about your lifestyle and health history and ask about your weight loss goals. If he does not feel Lap-Band is suitable for your case, he will recommend an alternative treatment option.
Generally, Lap-Band candidates are individuals who:
- are 18 years or older
- have a BMI of at least 40, or 30-35 with at least one obesity-related health condition
- are not able to sustain long-term weight loss through diet or exercise
- are prepared to make life-altering changes
- are not pregnant
Learn More about the Lap-Band
To learn more about the Lap-Band surgery and what it entails, schedule a personal consultation with Dr. Kuzinkovas. Please call 1-300 551 533 today.
Obese Women at Higher Risk of Developing Cancer
A recent study has just shed light on one of obesity’s most serious health effects. British researchers found that obese women are at far higher risk for cancer than women of healthy weight. This latest study adds to a growing body of research that links obesity to cancer and other serious diseases and conditions. Here, Dr. V. Kuzinkovas of Advanced Surgicare takes a look at the most recent findings.
What the Study Found
Researchers at Cancer Research UK found that obese women have a one in four risk of developing a weight-related cancer in their lifetime. The study also found obese women have a 40 percent higher risk for cancer than thinner women. Obese women are at higher risk for seven types of cancers, including:
- Bowel
- Gallbladder
- Uterus
- Kidney
- Pancreas
- Esophagus
- Breast (post menopausal)
As of now, there is no one clear explanation for this increased risk, but researchers believe one possible reason may be because cancer is linked to a fat cell’s production of hormones, especially estrogen. Having excess fat can change the level of estrogen a woman’s body produces. The more estrogen produced, the higher the risk for certain cancers. Additionally, research has also found that too much fat around the stomach is linked to bowel, kidney, esophagus, pancreatic, breast and womb cancers.
Weight Loss Surgery Options
One way women suffering from obesity can lower their risk of cancer is by losing weight. Healthy lifestyle habits such as not smoking, exercising regularly and eating healthy can help maintain an ideal weight. However, losing a massive amount of weight can be difficult, especially for women. Hereditary disposition and hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy and menopause can affect a woman’s ability to lose weight.
If you are overweight and are having a hard time losing weight, Advanced Surgicare can help. Dr. V. Kuzinkovas and the entire medical team at Advanced Surgicare have helped thousands of women reach their weight loss goals through bariatric surgeries including gastric bypass and laparoscopic weight loss surgery. Dr. Kuzinkovas can determine which best surgical procedure and/or weight loss treatment plan will help you live a happier, healthier life.
Learn more about the different bariatric surgery procedures we perform by scheduling a one-on-one consultation. Please call us today at 1 300 551 533.
Lap Band Surgery for Weight Loss
If you suffer from obesity and have tried everything to lose the excess weight with no success, it might be time to seek medical help. At Advanced Surgicare, Dr. V. Kuzinkovas, a trusted bariatric surgeon in Sydney, performs a range of weight loss surgery procedures for individuals who suffer from obesity, generally characterized by a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or higher as well as having one or more obesity-related health conditions (e.g., type-2 diabetes, sleep apnea, etc.).Read More