IS THE LAP-BAND RIGHT FOR ME?

Transcription

1 1 IS THE LAP-BAND RIGHT FOR ME? IS THE LAP-BAND RIGHT FOR ME?

2 CONTENTS What is the LAP-BAND? Why choose the LAP-BAND? Health risks associated with excess weight Are you a LAP-BAND candidate? Before LAP-BAND surgery Undergoing LAP-BAND surgery After LAP-BAND surgery Why choose Malley Surgical Weight Loss Center? LAP-BAND insurance options

3 3 IS THE LAP-BAND RIGHT FOR ME? Introduction We live in a world with limitless options for diet, exercise, and other weight-loss programs, so the inability to lose weight can lead to anger, frustration, and disappointment. However, if you struggle to lose weight, you should know you re not alone. Studies have shown that diet and exercise alone are not effective for people who need to lose a significant amount of weight. if you ve spent months, years, or even decades trying to lose weight, then LAP-BAND surgery may be the solution you re looking for. Our mission at Malley Surgical Weight Loss Center is to work with you to get the most out of LAP-BAND surgery one of the smartest and most life-changing decisions you will ever make. Our comprehensive patient program doesn t just help you lose the weight, it helps you conquer the habits that drove you to gain weight in the first place and gives you the resources you need to be successful in all aspects of life. After all, your overall well-being is just as important as your physical health. For our patients, weight-loss surgery is just the first step towards a happier, more active, and more enjoyable life. Before making the decision to undergo LAP-BAND surgery, it s important to understand how the LAP-BAND works, and the lifestyle changes you ll need to make to ensure that your LAP-BAND experience is successful. Although there are risks involved with any surgery, the benefits of the LAP-BAND far outweigh the potential risks and health problems you could face if you remain overweight. Here at Malley Surgical Weight Loss Center, we ll work with you every step of the way to help you prepare for LAP-BAND surgery, and provide the support and follow-up care you need to ensure a happy, pleasant, and healthy weight-loss journey. Our team at Malley Surgical Weight Loss Center has helped countless patients meet their weight-loss goals through LAP-BAND surgery. Dr. Stephen Malley is board-certified, and has performed more laparoscopic LAP-BAND surgeries than anyone else in the region. Malley and his team of professionals have extensive experience with the LAP-BAND procedure, which means a promising and successful weight-loss experience for you.

4 IS THE LAP-BAND RIGHT FOR ME? What is the LAP-BAND? 4 The LAP-BAND is a soft, adjustable silicone band about the size of a small napkin ring that your surgeon will place around the upper portion of your stomach. The band will sit high on your stomach and create a smaller, upper stomach pouch that rests above the band. When eating meals after undergoing

5 IS THE LAP-BAND RIGHT FOR ME? LAP-BAND surgery, you ll feel full sooner and for longer periods of time due to your smaller stomach pouch. Attached to the LAP-BAND is a long, thin tube that connects to an access port, which will sit just below your skin near your belly button on a part of your abdominal muscle. The LAP-BAND itself is hollow and is empty at the time of your surgery. After your stomach heals and adjusts to the presence of the band, your surgeon will add saline solution as needed to tighten the band and provide more restriction. As you get used to your new diet and lifestyle with the band, you may have several of these fills to find the perfect level of restriction for you. To add or remove saline solution, your bariatric surgeon will inject a fine needle into the port under your skin, which can be done easily and painlessly on a routine visit to our clinic. As time goes by after your LAP-BAND surgery, you can visit your bariatric surgeon at any time to have the amount of saline in the LAP-BAND adjusted. Some patients may need the band tightened in order to lose additional weight, or may need it loosened during times when they require additional nutrient intake, such as during pregnancy. 5

6 IS THE LAP-BAND RIGHT FOR ME? Why choose the LAP-BAND? Weight-loss surgery is becoming increasingly more common among the American population, especially considering the recent rise in obesity and type 2 diabetes rates throughout the United States. But how do you know which weight-loss procedure is the safest and most effective option? A number of recent studies have confirmed that the gastric banding weight-loss procedure, or the LAP-BAND, is the safest and most effective option for long-term weight-loss. Compared to all other weight-loss surgeries, LAP-BAND surgery carries the most benefits. In addition to being the safest and least invasive surgery, the procedure is associated with fewer complications, results in less pain, and provides a faster recovery time than other weight-loss surgeries. In a clinical study conducted on weight-loss surgery patients between 2007 and 2009, it was found that the average patient was able to lose 65 percent of excess weight within the first year after undergoing LAP-BAND surgery. In January 2013, a 15-year study on LAP-BAND patients was concluded, showing that LAP-BAND patients were able to maintain significant weight-loss for years after undergoing surgery. YEAR 1 after LAPBAND YEAR 15 after LAPBAND 6

7 IS THE LAP-BAND RIGHT FOR ME? Additionally, LAP-BAND surgery is considered the least invasive weight-loss surgery and is the only procedure that can be fully and easily reversed. The LAP-BAND surgical procedure also carries the lowest risks for patients and offers the shortest recovery time. Health risks associated with excess weight If you re considering LAP-BAND surgery, you may have questions about the risks involved, such as potential complications during surgery or uncomfortable side effects. Although there are possible risks associated with any type of surgery, the health problems you could face by staying overweight are far more serious and carry high-risk, long-term complications. 7

8 8 IS THE LAP-BAND RIGHT FOR ME? Obesity begins when your body mass index (BMI) reaches 30. Your body mass index is measured by comparing your height to your weight, and should be no more than 25. When your BMI reaches 30, you can develop illnesses that can lead to more serious health problems. When your BMI reaches 40, you are at even higher risk for major health complications. A BMI above 30 can increase your chances for the following potentially serious illnesses: Type 2 diabetes High blood pressure Sleep apnea Asthma Heart disease High cholesterol Infertility Osteoarthritis Gallbladder problems Acid reflux Joint problems Cancer Undergoing LAP-BAND surgery can not only make it finally possible to lose the weight, but can often resolve other weight-related health problems. Our patients are often able to discontinue use of many of their medications, and report feeling happier, healthier, and more energetic, in addition to having a thinner, more attractive body. After LAP-BAND surgery, you ll finally be able to wear what you want without feeling self-conscious or embarrassed. You ll be comfortable and energetic enough to play with your kids or go dancing, and to perform any other physical activity that your weight may have kept you from enjoying in the past.

9 9 IS THE LAP-BAND RIGHT FOR ME? Are you a LAP-BAND candidate? You are most likely a candidate for LAP-BAND surgery if you have a BMI of at least 30 and have failed to lose excess weight through dieting and exercise alone. Age: Over 18 years of age BMI: >30 Health: Suffer from one or more weight-related health conditions such as diabetes At Malley Surgical Weight Loss Center, we take several factors into consideration when determining whether you re an ideal candidate for LAP-BAND surgery. Generally, you must be at least 18 years of age, have a BMI of at least 35, or have a BMI above 30 and also suffer from one or more weight-related health conditions such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure. Even if you are not sure if you meet all of the standard requirements for LAP-BAND surgery, please meet with us in person so we can evaluate your individual case. Sometimes, we may agree that you are an ideal candidate for LAP-BAND surgery based on your physician s recommendation or on your individual health history.

10 IS THE LAP-BAND RIGHT FOR ME? Before LAP-BAND Surgery Before undergoing LAP-BAND surgery, our staff at Malley Surgical Weight Loss Center will meet with you to make sure you understand the benefits of the surgery and how it can change your life for the better. Our staff members are dedicated solely to supporting you during your weight-loss journey. Because we want your LAP-BAND experience to be successful, it s important to make sure that you lack any health complications that could keep the band from working as well as it could. In some cases, we may require you to undergo a series of medical tests, all of which we can schedule for you for your convenience. Before your LAP-BAND surgery, we will also consult with you regarding the lifestyle changes you ll be experiencing after surgery. Our team at Malley Surgical Weight Loss Center understands how emotionally challenging weight-loss surgery can be, especially if you ve faced failure with repeated weight-loss attempts in the past. However, our goal is to make you feel as comfortable as possible throughout the duration of surgery preparation and afterward. 10

11 IS THE LAP-BAND RIGHT FOR ME? Undergoing LAP-BAND Surgery During LAP-BAND surgery, you ll be placed under general anesthesia. LAP-BAND surgery is a laparoscopic procedure, which means that your surgeon will make a series of small incisions on your torso, rather than one long, visible incision. This will reduce scarring and speed up your recovery time. Your surgeon will use several thin, narrow tubes, including a tiny camera, to complete the surgery. The band will be placed around the upper part of your stomach and secured into place with sutures. Your surgeon will then insert the access port under your skin and attach it to the LAP-BAND. The access port will be sutured to part of your abdominal muscle, where it can be accessed by your surgeon during future clinic visits with the use of a tiny needle. LAP-BAND surgery generally takes our team between 30 and 45 minutes to complete. You will not be required to stay overnight, as recovery time takes only a few hours. After our team has granted you the medical clearance to return home, you can recover peacefully within the privacy and comfort of your own home and return to work in about 4 to 7 days. The LAP-BAND works by controlling the amount of food you eat and by allowing you to feel full sooner. The tighter your LAP-BAND is, the longer it will take for food to pass from the upper to the lower portion of your stomach. In this way, the LAP-BAND helps you lose weight by reducing your hunger, reducing the portion sizes your stomach can hold, and by making you feel full longer. In the weeks and months following LAP-BAND surgery, your surgeon will use the access port to adjust the amount of saline in the LAP-BAND at any time you need the band tightened or loosened. 11

12 IS THE LAP-BAND RIGHT FOR ME? After LAP-BAND Surgery After you undergo LAP-BAND surgery, we ll continue to provide you with the support you need as you adjust to your new, healthy lifestyle. Our staff members will schedule follow-up visits with you to work on meal planning and nutrition after surgery. Although your new food portions will be smaller than what you re used to, you ll be eating foods that are higher in the nutrients you need to make sure your body receives proper nutrition and to help with your weight-loss efforts. You ll also be part of our post-operative after care and support program, in which you ll learn more about the roles and importance of exercise, nutrition, and diet in your new lifestyle. We ll help you learn more about how LAP-BAND surgery will affect or change certain aspects of your life, such as helping to improve fertility and resolve other health conditions. Throughout the first year after you undergo LAP-BAND surgery, you ll continue to visit our weight-loss center for follow-up visits with one of our surgeons. During your follow-up visits, we ll track your weight-loss progress and address any and all concerns you may have about your life after surgery. Our goal is to help you succeed with your weight loss and to help you understand how the LAP-BAND can help you achieve your goals. 12

13 13 IS THE LAP-BAND RIGHT FOR ME? Why Choose Malley Surgical Weight Loss Center? Unlike other health clinics, Malley Surgical Weight Loss Center provides you with all the support you need on your weight-loss journey starting with your very first visit and lasting far beyond your LAP-BAND surgery. After all, your LAP-BAND surgery is the first step toward leading a new, healthy lifestyle. We understand that the journey to weight loss can be challenging, and that s why our team will provide you with a number of support options. In addition to being passionate about weight loss, Dr. Stephen Malley is known for being one of the pioneers of the LAP-BAND system in the Midwest region, and is ready to show you exactly how the LAP-BAND can change your life.

14 14 IS THE LAP-BAND RIGHT FOR ME? LAP-BAND Insurance Options Undergoing weight-loss surgery can be overwhelming on its own, and that s why our team at Malley Surgical Weight Loss Center will help you with managing the entire insurance process from start to finish. In addition to our health staff, we have dedicated insurance specialists on board who will help and guide you through every step of the way in regards to insurance coverage for your LAP-BAND surgery. Our insurance specialists will help you understand the coverage options under your existing health insurance plan and will help you maximize your benefits to their fullest. The first step you ll take prior to beginning the LAP-BAND surgery process with Malley Surgical Weight Loss Center is calling your health insurance provider to verify whether your plan covers LAP-BAND surgery. Then, you ll need to ask your insurance provider if you can select the bariatric surgeon of your choice to handle the surgery. If LAP-BAND surgery is covered by your health insurance provider and you can choose Malley Surgical Weight Loss Center to handle your surgery, schedule an appointment with our office right away, and we can walk you through the remainder of the insurance process. Depending on the type of insurance policy you have, you may need to obtain a physician s referral before you make an appointment for your first consultation with us. CALL HEALTH CARE PROVIDER ASK PROVIDER IF YOU CAN SELECT SURGEON IF APPROVED, CALL MALLEY SURGICAL MALLEY WILL HELP WITH THE REST

15 15 IS THE LAP-BAND RIGHT FOR ME? Conclusion Whether you ve already decided LAP-BAND surgery is the right choice for you, or you re just beginning to learn more, Malley Surgical Weight Loss Center will work with you to help you make the smartest decision for you and your health. The sooner you can take the first step with Malley Surgical, the sooner you can look and feel much healthier and happier. To get started on your journey to weight loss, call Malley Surgical Weight Loss Center at (913) today to make your first appointment.