July 27, 2009 · Filed Under Weight Loss Surgery · Comment 

The Lap Band System uses a Lap Band which is an adjustable gastric band that is actually a silicone belt that is placed around the top of the stomach. Lap Band surgery is one in which this band is placed dividing the stomach into two parts with the upper part forming a pouch which is connected to the lower part of the stomach through a narrow passage. It’s a weight loss surgery but unlike gastric bypass surgery it is temporary whereas gastric bypass surgery is permanent and requires much more of a lifestyle change. You can lose belly fat and other body fat with this procedure.

During Lap Band surgery, a bag filled with fluid is placed around the stomach, reducing its size and decreasing the amount of food it can take in. This breakthrough is the least invasive of any form of bariatric or weight loss surgery. And Lap Band surgery is a much simpler surgery than the better known gastric bypass surgery. For gastric bypass, of which there are two types (Roux-en-Y-gastric bypass and biliopancreatic diversion bypass), the weight loss surgeon not only reduces the size of the stomach, but also creates a bypass around the stomach and also a part of the intestine in this more complicated procedure.

It’s been around for about ten years, but it didn’t get approval from the FDA until 2001. While gastric bypass is still the more well-known option for weight loss surgery, there has been increasing interest in the Lap Band and it’s becoming a much preferred procedure. According to some studies done BioEnterics for the FDA, the band can create side effects such as nausea and vomiting, heartburn and sometimes abdominal pain. Sometimes patients need another surgery to correct a problem with it. But, the Lap Band surgery procedure is preferred over the other permanent surgeries and is the least traumatic. It is the only adjustable and completely reversible obesity surgery in the United States today.

The surgery takes less than an hour and does require an overnight stay in the hospital. The patient’s stomach isn’t stapled. And the small intestine isn’t cut and rerouted as it is in gastric bypass surgery. The banding procedure also eliminates the ‘dumping syndrome’, which is the sick feeling that is associated with eating sweets or drinking alcoholic beverages after gastric bypass surgery.

Lap Band surgery typically costs thousands of dollars less than gastric bypass surgeries do. And people often travel to Mexico or other countries if they don’t have health insurance. Both surgeries improve or eliminate diabetes, high blood pressure and other illnesses or symptoms associated with obesity.

Gastric bypass surgery forces patients to lose weight rapidly though malabsorption of important key nutrients, but the Lap Band can be customized to fit individual weight loss needs and goals. Lap Band surgery has helped many patients lose weight successfully and who have been good candidates for it.

You can go online and visit blogs, forums and personal websites of people who have undergone lap band surgery to learn more about experiences. You might find you identify with them and their stories will help you decide if you’re a good candidate and are moving in the right direction.

Considering whether to undergo Lap Band surgery requires serious thought. It should only to be considered if morbid obesity is a major medical issue and nothing has worked. Make sure you understand the side effects and risks. Check your health insurance plan or provider and see if it is covered. Both gastric bypass and lap band surgery can provide significant health benefits through proven long-term weight loss. But many people do gain weight along the line so it is not a cure-all or a way to get around changing eating habits. Diets and eating habits must be changed for any weight loss surgery to work.

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July 27, 2009 · Filed Under Health · Comment 

Tummy Tuck/ Abdominoplasty

Flat and well-toned abdomen is an appealing body profile or contour that a lot of people aspire to have. We often strive to have this feature through diet and exercise. However, sometimes these methods fail to achieve this goal. Abdominoplasty or commonly known as tummy tuck, is a surgical procedure that removes the excess skin and fat of the abdomen, restores or repair weakened abdominal muscles creating an abdominal profile that is smoother and firmer. However, patients must be informed that this procedure is not a substitute for diet, weight loss or an appropriate exercise program.

 

There are a lot of individuals, particularly women of childbearing age that has abdomen, which is protruding, and with loose and sagging skin. These individuals may even have a normal body weight and proportional body profile. These changes in quality of the skin and muscle of the abdomen are commonly caused by multiple factors that weaken the structures of abdominal. This may be due to pregnancy, aging, massive weight lost, hereditary disorder, and previous abdominal surgery or trauma. These may affect or change the strength of the abdominal muscles and lead to laxity of the abdominal wall.

 

Eventhough results of this procedure may last for a long time, the positive outcome can be greatly diminished by significant fluctuations in weight that is often accompanied by inelastic and excess skin. This is why, an individual who is planning to have substantial weight loss or women who may be considering future pregnancies may be advised to postpone a tummy tuck surgery.

 

Tummy tuck is recommended for patients with excess or redundant abdominal skin and/or laxity of abdominal muscle. This is usually seen among women that had multiple pregnancies or patients with massive weight lost after a Bariatric Surgery. To be a good candidate for this procedure, patients must be physically healthy and at a stable weight, patients must have realistic expectations, don’t smoke and don’t have any uncontrolled medical illness. The procedure cannot correct stretch marks, although these may be removed or somewhat improved if they are located on the areas of excess skin that will be excised, generally those treated areas below the belly button.

 

Individuals planning to undergo abdominoplasty are prepared prior to scheduled surgery. Patients are advised to avoid the following for 2 to 3 weeks before surgery; smoking, alcoholic beverages, steroids, NSAIDs or pain medications like mefenamic acids and naproxen, herbal tea, herbal medications, Vitamin E, blood thinning medications like aspirin, heparin and coumadin, regulated drugs like valum, prohibited drugs like methamphetamines, diet pills and oral contraceptive pills. These medications and social activity may delay healing, prolong bleeding during surgery and may interact with the medications used during surgery. It is advised that patients discuss this further with their surgeon to minimize possible risks and complications.

 

The surgery is performed either under sedation, regional or general anesthesia depending on the extent of the procedure. This can be performed in an out-patient surgical facility that is accredited by local health department or patient may be admitted in a hospital for a few days. A full tummy tuck procedure requires a horizontally oriented incision, located at lower abdomen just above the pubic hair line; the incision may extent from hip to hip depending on the amount of excess abdominal skin that needs to be removed.  Through this incision, a large area of the lower abdomen skin and fat is removed. The weakened abdominal wall muscles are repaired with non-absorbable plication sutures. This will tighten the abdominal wall and improve abdominal tone and contour.

 

After abdominoplasty, the abdomen will be flat and firm that is more proportionate with the patient’s body contour. The initial results after the surgery may be obscured by swelling and some bruising. This is temporary and may resolve after 1 to 2 weeks, but patients are advised, that the final outcome will be evident after 3 to 6 months.

 

Pressure garment or abdominal binder is applied for 2 to 3 weeks at the abdomen after surgery. This will help the skin redrape to the muscles and control the swelling. Sutures are usually removed  10 days after surgery.

 

Prospective patients planning to have this procedure are required to allot 12 to 14 days. This time will be used for the initial consultation, laboratory, medical clearance, surgery, follow up, suture removal and early recuperation. After this patient is safe to travel since wounds are dry and healed.

 

Your plastic surgeon and/or staff will explain in detail the risks associated with surgery. You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure you will undergo and any risks or potential complications.

 

 

Possible risks and complications include:

Unfavorable scarring

Bleeding (hematoma)

Infection

Fluid accumulation

Poor wound healing

Skin loss

Blood clots

Numbness or other changes in skin sensation

Anesthesia risks

Skin discoloration and/or prolonged swelling

Fatty tissue found deep in the skin might die (fat necrosis)

Major wound separation

Asymmetry

Recurrent looseness of skin

Pain, which may persist

Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications

Persistent swelling in the legs

Nerve damage

Possibility of revision of surgery

Suboptimal aesthetic result

 

For more information on affordable cosmetic procedure, selecting qualified cosmetic plastic surgeon and to know all your options for the procedure you want to have you may visit www.philippinecosmetic.com/  or  www.cosmeticplasticsurgeryphil.com

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