Minimally Invasive Laparoscopic Gastric Banding Weight Loss Procedure

Main Category: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Also Included In: GastroIntestinal / Gastroenterology
Article Date: 29 Oct 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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Allina Hospitals & Clinics' Unity Hospital will present a live weight loss surgery on http://www.or-live.com/unityhospital/2151 at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 30. Jeffrey Baker, MD, will perform a laparoscopic adjustable gastric band surgery, commonly known as Lap-Band(R) or Realize Band(TM) surgery, while Frederick Johnson, MD answers viewer questions, and talks about the benefits of adjustable banding procedures.

"This is a great opportunity for individuals contemplating weight loss surgery to learn more about a minimally invasive, proven option for surgical weight loss," said Frederick Johnson, MD, surgeon and co-medical director for the Unity Hospital Bariatric Center.

During the laparoscopic gastric banding procedure, surgeons make several small incisions and use long instruments, called laparoscopes, to place a silicone band around the top of the patient's stomach, creating a small stomach pouch. As a result, the patient feels fuller with smaller amounts of food, resulting in weight loss. The band can be further adjusted to limit or increase the amount of food the stomach can hold, or adapt to future lifestyle changes such as pregnancy.

In addition to weight loss, patients frequently see many other health benefits, including better control or resolution of diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, asthma, heartburn, cancers and many other illnesses associated with morbid obesity.

This procedure also has significantly shorter recovery times than other weight loss surgeries. "Laparoscopic procedures only require four to six small incisions, rather than the much larger incision required for traditional weight loss surgery," says Jeffrey Baker, MD, surgeon and co-medical director for the Unity Hospital Bariatric Center. "Most of our patients go home after one night in the hospital."

Nationally recognized as a "Bariatric Center of Excellence" by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons, Unity Hospital's Bariatric Center is dedicated to helping patients achieve significant weight loss, which can lead to a healthier, more active lifestyle.

Unity's Bariatric Center has treated more than 5,000 patients for the disease of morbid obesity since 1996. From its beginning, the center has been a resource for community education, medical training, and patient care. The Center offers a variety of proven weight loss surgery options, including open or laparoscopic Roux-en-y gastric bypass surgery, and the increasingly popular laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (including LAP-Band(R) and REALIZE Band(TM)).

Unity Hospital in Fridley, Minn. responds to a wide range of health care needs. Unity is part of Allina Hospitals & Clinics, a not-for-profit family of hospitals, clinics and other care services dedicated to meeting the lifelong health care needs of communities throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. More information about Unity Hospital can be found at http://www.allinaunity.org

Lap-Band(R) is a registered trademark of Allergan Inc. (NYSE: AGN)

Learn more about this weight loss solution by visiting OR-Live.com

VNR: Adjustable Gastric Band

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