| Dr. Ataurrabb Ahmad is a bariatric surgeon and has answered some of the common questions Bizymoms visitors have about Bariatric Surgery.
Q. How long is the recovery period?
A. 1-2 weeks depending on patient.
Q. What is LapBand surgery?
A. The idea behind the operation is to create a small pouch in the upper part of the stomach with a controlled and adjustable stoma, without stapling, thus limiting food intake.
A gastric band device is introduced through tiny (1cm) incisions in the abdomen and is placed around the upper part of the stomach. The resulting pouch (or the "new stomach") dramatically reduces the functional capacity of the stomach. The band has a balloon from the inside that is adjustable and can reduce stoma size, thus prolonging the period of fullness.
The operation is performed under general anesthesia and can last between 30 minutes and 1 hour. The Band is fitted around the uppermost part of the stomach, forming a 15cc small pouch. It is designed so that it can be inflated or deflated at any time after the operation. This helps the patient continually lose weight until they reach their goals. The restriction takes place in the radiology suite or surgeon's office and normally takes 15 minutes. This simple procedure is painless. They inject saline into a port placed under the skin in the wall of the stomach. The tube that comes off of the band leads to the port.
Advantages of Banding:
No cutting of the stomach
No stapling of the stomach - Calibrated pouch and stoma size
Can be adjusted to patent's needs after surgery with no operation to adjust the stoma
Laparoscopic removal possible
Fully reversible
Short hospital stay (does not exceed 48 hours)
Q. What types of Bariatric surgeries are there?
A. Gastric Bypass, Gastric Sleeve, Lapband (Dr. Ahmad specializes in Lapband)
Q. Does Bariatric Surgery Typically Lead to Major Weight Loss?
A. Yes most often.
Q. What is the average level of weight loss of each type of surgery?
A. Really depends on the patient. Typical lapband weight loss is 1-2 pounds a week.
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