Success Stories
Adjustable LAP-BAND Weight Loss Surgery Popular with Patients
Over the past 30 years, Alice Hunt had consistently gained weight. Now, at 67 years young, she suffers from high blood pressure and arthritis and is anticipating knee replacement surgery down the road. Wanting to live a more healthy and active lifestyle, Alice had heard about gastric bypass weight loss surgery from a friend and wondered if she could have the procedure done.
She attended a free informational session given by Dr. Christopher Joyce, bariatric surgeon who has performed hundreds of successful gastric bypass surgeries including the first open and laparoscopic procedures in Will and Grundy counties.
At 226 pounds, Alice suffered from morbid obesity. Dr. Joyce said that Alice was a good candidate for a new type of procedure called LAP-BAND®. LAP-BAND® is the only FDA approved adjustable surgical treatment for morbid obesity in the United States. It induces weight loss by reducing the capacity of the stomach and restricting the amount of food that can be consumed. During the procedure, surgeons use small incisions to implant an inflatable silicone band into the patient's abdomen. Like a wristwatch, the band is fastened around the upper stomach to create a new, tiny stomach pouch that limits and controls the amount of food you eat. It also creates a small outlet that slows the emptying process into the stomach and the intestines. As a result, patients experience an earlier sensation of fullness and are satisfied with smaller amounts of food. In turn, this results in weight loss.
The diameter of the band is adjustable to meet the patient's needs, which can change as you lose weight. The band can be inflated or deflated with saline solution that the surgeon can control using a fine needle through the skin.
"Since there is no cutting, stapling or stomach rerouting involved in the LAP-BAND procedure, it is considered the least traumatic of all weight loss surgeries," says Dr. Joyce. "The laparoscopic approach to the surgery also offers the advantages of reduced post-operative pain, shortened hospital stay and quicker recovery. In addition it is more cosmetically acceptable to patients than open traditional surgery."
"It's slow—but wonderful," Alice said. "My blood pressure has improved and I've even been able get rid of some of my medicine.