LAP-BAND® System and Gastric Bypass Surgery - Surgeons in La Jolla, North County San Diego
There are different kinds of weight loss surgery, and choosing the right one is an important part of the decision-making process for bariatric surgery candidates. LAP-BAND® System and laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery offer unique advantages. Our surgeons serving La Jolla, North County, and all San Diego, have the expertise required to help each candidate make the right decisions for their health.
Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass Surgery
Gastric bypass surgery involves the surgical alteration of the digestive tract. Typically, this means reducing the size of the stomach so that patients will eat smaller portions. Gastric bypass also involves changing the absorbtion of food, so that patients absorb fewer calories and fats, often resulting in the rapid and dramatic cure of diabetes.
The bariatric surgeons at La Jolla Weight Management use laparoscopic techniques in performing gastric bypass surgery, which allows them to make extremely small incisions, through which a video camera and other specialized surgical tools can be placed. The minimally invasive nature of the procedure can help shorten recovery time, diminish the risk of complications, and minimize postoperative scarring.
When performing gastric bypass surgery, our surgeons first isolate a small portion of the stomach, creating, in essence, a stomach pouch. Next, they cut the small intestine below the main portion of the stomach, leaving most of the stomach and an attached section of small intestine disconnected from the digestive tract. Finally, the small stomach pouch is attached to the small intestine so that food can be processed, while the disconnected stomach and small intestine segment are reattached to the small intestine to aid in drainage. This segment will no longer process food, reducing the capacity of the stomach.
Because gastric bypass surgery requires our surgeons to reconfigure the digestive tract, the procedure is not usually reversible. It is important for prospective patients to understand this before they decide to undergo surgery.
After surgery, most patients need to spend two to three days in the hospital, followed by a two- to four-week recovery period. Before, during, and after gastric bypass surgery, our surgeons offer our La Jolla and North County San Diego patients comprehensive advice, care, and support.
LAP-BAND® System Surgery
For many of our patients, the LAP-BAND® System surgery performed at our La Jolla practice – convenient to North County and metro San Diego – is the best option for weight loss. Rather than permanently reconfiguring the digestive tract, this procedure uses an adjustable gastric band to constrict the upper part of the stomach. The opening between the stomach ouch and the rest of the stomach be adjusted to meet the needs of the patient, and the band can be removed at a later date if it becomes necessary.
Like gastric bypass, LAP-BAND® System surgery is performed by our surgeons using "closed" laparoscopic techniques to minimize scarring, side effects, and risks associated with the procedure. During surgery, the band is carefully maneuvered into position around the stomach through an incision in the abdominal wall, creating a small stomach pouch.
During the regular out patient follow up, the gastric band is filled with an injection of saline solution through an attached reservoir that has been implanted under the skin. This reservoir allows the doctor to change the tightness of the gastric band. When the “correct tightness” is reached, patients should feel full on small meals and have much less hunger than before surgery. If the patient is not losing weight, the band can be tightened, and if the patient is experiencing unpleasant side effects or losing too much weight the band can be loosened. These adjustments also make the post-surgical transition easier on the LAP-BAND® System surgery patient.
LAP-BAND® System surgery is less invasive than gastric bypass, with a shorter recovery time, but it is still a potentially risky surgical procedure and should not be taken lightly. Some patients who choose LAP-BAND® System surgery may lose weight less quickly than gastric bypass patients, but may also be less likely to regain the weight after losing it. ss patients, but are also less likely to regain the weight after losing it.
Before patients decide on LAP-BAND® System surgery, our surgeons will discuss all surgical options with them in detail to help them choose the right procedure.
Contact La Jolla Weight Management
Contact us today if you are interested in gastric bypass or LAP-BAND® System surgery. Our surgeons, who serve patients from La Jolla, North County, and all San Diego, are committed to performing the safest, most effective weight loss surgery available and helping patients make the best choices for their health.
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To learn more about LAP-BAND® System and gastric bypass surgery, contact our surgeons in La Jolla, serving North County and all of San Diego.
La Jolla Weight Management
Dr. Sunil Bhoyrul
9850 Genesee Ave., Suite 730
La Jolla, CA 92037
Phone: (858) 457-4917
Fax: (858) 457-3287
Surgical Associates of La Jolla
Dr. Paul Hyde
Dr. Mark Sherman
Dr. Cheryl Olson
9850 Genesee Ave., Suite 660
La Jolla, CA 92037
Phone: (858) 452-5054
Fax: (858) 452-5097
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