What Is Lap Band Surgery and How Much Does It Cost
Obesity is a condition where an individual has an unhealthy amount of body fat. Being overweight and obese is the leading cause of severe health issues, including diabetes and cardiac issues. However, you can maintain a healthy weight by regular exercise and consuming healthy foods.
According to the WHO, around 1 billion people are suffering from obesity. This number includes 39 million children, 340 million adolescents, and 650 million adults. The number is increasing each day. Estimates suggest that around 167 million people with be prone to health issues because of obesity by 2025.
However, if anyone wants faster results to eliminate obesity or other efforts are not working as expected, they can go for a lap band surgery. The lap band surgery procedure can help people lose weight and overcome obesity.
It involves placing a silicone ring around your stomach and adding an adjustable valve on the outside of it. The valve is used to slowly restrict the amount of food that can pass through your stomach, making losing weight easier. Lap band surgery is only performed by doctors who have undergone specialized training.
What is the Lap Band?
The lap band is a simple silicone ring placed around the stomach, restricting the amount of food one can consume. The band is connected to a port implanted under the skin, which is used to inject saline into the band when it needs adjusting. The procedure usually takes an hour and is categorized under outpatient surgery.
Is Lap Band Procedure Good for You?
According to the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, when a person’s BMI rises above 35, the chances of reaching normal body weight and lasting for a long time remain only 1%. Therefore, the surgical process becomes necessary for such people.
However, people having the following conditions should avoid going for the lap band surgery:
- Unable to stop smoking entirely for at least six months before surgery. It includes cutting down on cigarettes but does not include chewing nicotine gum or patches, which can be helpful.
- A history of cancer or pre-cancerous lesions in the esophagus, trachea, lungs, or throat. Lap Band Surgery may sometimes cause these problems if they do not heal properly after surgery.
- Underwent any weight loss surgery, including gastric bypass, duodenal switch, biliopancreatic diversion, sleeve gastrectomy, or vertical sleeve gastrectomy surgeries within the past 12 months. It should be more than 12 months before you plan on having your lap band procedure done.
What Cost Can You Expect from the Typical Lap Band Procedure?
The average cost of lap band surgery is $21,000, but it can range from $10,000 to $50,000. However, the actual cost of an individual’s lap band procedure can depend on many factors.
Generally, your surgeon’s reputation and experience can significantly impact the lap band cost. The location where you get your surgery done also affects the price range. In general, Southern states tend to have lower costs because fewer medical professionals are available here.
A surgeon who has performed a certain number of bariatric surgeries will be able to complete your procedure more quickly than someone new to the field. In addition, they will charge less for their services than an inexperienced surgeon would have to charge to stay afloat financially while they gain expertise in this procedure.
How Much Weight is Expected to Be Lost with Lap Band Surgery?
The amount of weight you lose after lap band surgery is variable. The average weight loss is 40-60% of excess body weight, but it varies depending on the patient’s age, size, and weight. For example, if you are a teenager who weighs 200 pounds and has a BMI in the obese range (over 30). You may lose only 20 pounds after lap band surgery because your stomach can still hold more food than needed.
In contrast, if you are older and weigh 300 pounds with a BMI over 40, which means that nearly half your body mass is fat, you might be able to lose up to 100 pounds after having lap band surgery.
According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, the prevalence of obesity in the US has increased from 30.5% to 41.9% from 2017 to 2020. During this time, the prevalence of severe obesity also rose from 4.7% to 9.2%. It highlights the importance of procedures like lap band surgery.
One constant thing about lap band surgery is that it does not cause any lasting damage to internal organs by cutting into them or otherwise damaging them as other types of surgeries do. Therefore, there will be no long-term side effects caused by this procedure like those experienced by patients who have had gastric bypass surgery.
How is the Lap Band Placed Around the Stomach?
Your lap band surgery will be done in the hospital. After the procedure, you will be put under general anesthesia and given pain medication.
The surgeon makes a small incision in your abdomen, usually about an inch long. Next, the surgeon places the band around your stomach to restrict its size and reduce how much food you can eat at one time. The surgeon also cuts into your stomach and inserts the band through that incision, which is why you may hear crunching noises during this part of the surgery if you are awake enough to notice them.
What Can You Typically Eat After Receiving the Lap Band?
After the surgery, you can eat a healthy diet consisting of smaller portions, various foods, and more protein. Some good choices include:
- Low-fat dairy products
- Lean meat, poultry, and fish
- Eggs (scrambled or hard-boiled)
What Results Can You Anticipate After Receiving the Lap Band?
After the procedure, you can expect to lose about half of your excess weight after the first year. You’ll need to continue following a healthy diet and exercise program to maintain your results.
If you’re considering a lap band, remember that it’s not an automatic cure-all for obesity and won’t work for everyone. The best way to determine whether or not this surgery is right for you is by speaking with a qualified surgeon who can assess your situation during an initial consultation.
Conclusion
Lap band surgery is a safe and effective way to manage your weight. It has been an effective treatment for obesity that can lead to long-term weight loss while maintaining the ability to eat solid foods.
Lap band surgery can also help improve other health concerns related to being overweight or obese, like high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and diabetes mellitus type 2. However, the costs of this procedure vary depending on where you get treated.
In addition to making lifestyle changes, patients may need to have their band adjusted or removed altogether if they experience complications or problems with its use.
What Is Lap Band Surgery and How Much Does It Cost
Obesity is a condition where an individual has an unhealthy amount of body fat. Being overweight and obese is the leading cause of severe health issues, including diabetes and cardiac issues. However, you can maintain a healthy weight by regular exercise and consuming healthy foods.
According to the WHO, around 1 billion people are suffering from obesity. This number includes 39 million children, 340 million adolescents, and 650 million adults. The number is increasing each day. Estimates suggest that around 167 million people with be prone to health issues because of obesity by 2025.
However, if anyone wants faster results to eliminate obesity or other efforts are not working as expected, they can go for a lap band surgery. The lap band surgery procedure can help people lose weight and overcome obesity.
It involves placing a silicone ring around your stomach and adding an adjustable valve on the outside of it. The valve is used to slowly restrict the amount of food that can pass through your stomach, making losing weight easier. Lap band surgery is only performed by doctors who have undergone specialized training.
What is the Lap Band?
The lap band is a simple silicone ring placed around the stomach, restricting the amount of food one can consume. The band is connected to a port implanted under the skin, which is used to inject saline into the band when it needs adjusting. The procedure usually takes an hour and is categorized under outpatient surgery.
Is Lap Band Procedure Good for You?
According to the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, when a person’s BMI rises above 35, the chances of reaching normal body weight and lasting for a long time remain only 1%. Therefore, the surgical process becomes necessary for such people.
However, people having the following conditions should avoid going for the lap band surgery:
- Unable to stop smoking entirely for at least six months before surgery. It includes cutting down on cigarettes but does not include chewing nicotine gum or patches, which can be helpful.
- A history of cancer or pre-cancerous lesions in the esophagus, trachea, lungs, or throat. Lap Band Surgery may sometimes cause these problems if they do not heal properly after surgery.
- Underwent any weight loss surgery, including gastric bypass, duodenal switch, biliopancreatic diversion, sleeve gastrectomy, or vertical sleeve gastrectomy surgeries within the past 12 months. It should be more than 12 months before you plan on having your lap band procedure done.
What Cost Can You Expect from the Typical Lap Band Procedure?
The average cost of lap band surgery is $21,000, but it can range from $10,000 to $50,000. However, the actual cost of an individual’s lap band procedure can depend on many factors.
Generally, your surgeon’s reputation and experience can significantly impact the lap band cost. The location where you get your surgery done also affects the price range. In general, Southern states tend to have lower costs because fewer medical professionals are available here.
A surgeon who has performed a certain number of bariatric surgeries will be able to complete your procedure more quickly than someone new to the field. In addition, they will charge less for their services than an inexperienced surgeon would have to charge to stay afloat financially while they gain expertise in this procedure.
How Much Weight is Expected to Be Lost with Lap Band Surgery?
The amount of weight you lose after lap band surgery is variable. The average weight loss is 40-60% of excess body weight, but it varies depending on the patient’s age, size, and weight. For example, if you are a teenager who weighs 200 pounds and has a BMI in the obese range (over 30). You may lose only 20 pounds after lap band surgery because your stomach can still hold more food than needed.
In contrast, if you are older and weigh 300 pounds with a BMI over 40, which means that nearly half your body mass is fat, you might be able to lose up to 100 pounds after having lap band surgery.
According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, the prevalence of obesity in the US has increased from 30.5% to 41.9% from 2017 to 2020. During this time, the prevalence of severe obesity also rose from 4.7% to 9.2%. It highlights the importance of procedures like lap band surgery.
One constant thing about lap band surgery is that it does not cause any lasting damage to internal organs by cutting into them or otherwise damaging them as other types of surgeries do. Therefore, there will be no long-term side effects caused by this procedure like those experienced by patients who have had gastric bypass surgery.
How is the Lap Band Placed Around the Stomach?
Your lap band surgery will be done in the hospital. After the procedure, you will be put under general anesthesia and given pain medication.
The surgeon makes a small incision in your abdomen, usually about an inch long. Next, the surgeon places the band around your stomach to restrict its size and reduce how much food you can eat at one time. The surgeon also cuts into your stomach and inserts the band through that incision, which is why you may hear crunching noises during this part of the surgery if you are awake enough to notice them.
What Can You Typically Eat After Receiving the Lap Band?
After the surgery, you can eat a healthy diet consisting of smaller portions, various foods, and more protein. Some good choices include:
- Low-fat dairy products
- Lean meat, poultry, and fish
- Eggs (scrambled or hard-boiled)
What Results Can You Anticipate After Receiving the Lap Band?
After the procedure, you can expect to lose about half of your excess weight after the first year. You’ll need to continue following a healthy diet and exercise program to maintain your results.
If you’re considering a lap band, remember that it’s not an automatic cure-all for obesity and won’t work for everyone. The best way to determine whether or not this surgery is right for you is by speaking with a qualified surgeon who can assess your situation during an initial consultation.
Conclusion
Lap band surgery is a safe and effective way to manage your weight. It has been an effective treatment for obesity that can lead to long-term weight loss while maintaining the ability to eat solid foods.
Lap band surgery can also help improve other health concerns related to being overweight or obese, like high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and diabetes mellitus type 2. However, the costs of this procedure vary depending on where you get treated.
In addition to making lifestyle changes, patients may need to have their band adjusted or removed altogether if they experience complications or problems with its use.
