Bariatric surgery describes a series of operations used to help patients who are severely overweight lose some of their excess body fat. Laparoscopic gastric banding is one popular type of bariatric operation, but there are a number of other options.
Procedures
Laparoscopic gastric banding, also known as Lap Band surgery, works via the installation of a band that restricts how much food the stomach can hold, the Consumer Guide to Bariatric Surgery explains. Other bariatric surgical procedures involve cutting or rerouting portions of the digestive tract, which can restrict the size of the stomach or inhibit calorie absorption.
Weight Loss
Laparoscopic gastric banding yields similar levels of weight loss compared to other bariatric procedures, LapBand.com explains. However, patients who receive laparoscopic gastric banding may lose weight more slowly than they can with other bariatric surgical procedures.
Unique Risks
Because laparoscopic gastric banding does not involve any cutting of the digestive tract that other bariatric procedures require, there is a reduced risk of perforation, scarring or excessive bleeding within the digestive tract. On the other hand, with laparoscopic gastric banding the band can slip after the procedure, resulting in severe pain or nausea.
Nutritional Restrictions
With laparoscopic gastric banding and other bariatric procedures, patients must limit their food intake and avoid eating large quantities of food, as this can result in nausea and vomiting. Proper nutrition is also necessary to avoid vitamin deficiencies. In addition, bariatric procedures that involve the bypass of part of the intestines can result in diarrhea if large amounts of carbohydrates are eaten, a symptom also known as dumping syndrome.
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