Should I Choose Lap Band or Gastric Bypass?

Once you have decided to get weight loss surgery, there are several choices as to the type of surgery you have. While your doctor will consult you regarding the best alternatives, the most popular are gastric bypass & lap band surgery. Gastric bypass has been around for thirty years and is the most frequently performed weight loss surgery in the country. On the other hand, the lap band procedure is newer and less invasive.

Lap band and gastric bypass procedures are both effective as weight loss options in a sense that they both limit the amount of food a person can eat. Aside from the decrease of food consumption, both procedures also make the body, specifically the stomach, feel full or sated after eating a lesser amount of food due to reduced stomach size.

The two procedures are similar in many ways. After the procedure, patients will not be allowed to consume drinks with sugar especially carbonated ones. Patients are usually advised to eat foods rich in protein. Both procedures will entail proper diet which includes avoiding high calorie intake, in between meals or snacking and drinking plenty of liquid after meals. Patients are also advised to eat slowly and chew the food thoroughly.

Gastric bypass affects the amount of nutrients being absorbed by the body. Therefore, many doctors will advise you to take vitamins and other health supplements. They may prescribe you to take iron, calcium, vitamins D and B12 to help fight anemia, osteoporosis and other health problems.

Gastric bypass procedure usually takes about 2 to 3 hours while lap band only requires an hour to finish since it is less invasive. Gastric bypass surgery requires a longer period of recovery, which is around 3 to 4 months while lap band surgery only requires about a month or two for full recovery.

Since gastric bypass is an intensive procedure, a significant amount of weight loss can be expected after the procedure because of the reduction in calorie consumption and the amount of food the stomach can hold. A typical weight loss from gastric bypass is 70-80% of excess body weight. Lap band surgery on the other hand requires a longer period to lose a significant amount of weight. Patients typically lose 40 % of their excess weight. But major advantages of lap band surgery are that it is less invasive, less complicated and can be reversed. Gastric bypass, on the other hand, is permanent.

People should consult their doctor in order to determine which of the two is the most suitable for their body type and needs.