Guest Post: The Differences Between Popular Weight Loss Procedures

The Differences Between Popular Weight Loss Procedures

There is a lot of confusion between two popular weight loss procedures – Gastric Bands and Gastric Balloons – but anyone struggling to lose weight and considering one of these procedures should understand that they are very different. Neither is a measure to be taken without proper medical consultation, but with the right medical advice and information about how they differ, patients will be armed with the knowledge to reach the right decision for their individual circumstances. 

The most appropriate procedure depends upon physical factors such as BMI (Body Mass Index) and waist circumference, but also mental attitude and commitment to altering relationships with food and dieting in order to achieve your long-term goals.  A reputable obesity surgeon will consider all of these factors before recommending which procedure will suit you best.

Gastric Band:

     A Gastric Band is suitable for those who intent to lose a substantial amount of weight and want to lose it sensibly over a prolonged period of time. Generally a good option for patients with a BMI over 35, the band is fitted through keyhole or laparoscopic surgery – minimally invasive surgery meaning tiny wound – performed under general anaesthetic in approximately an hour. Patients are usually kept in hospital overnight and tend to recover quickly due to the minimal wound.

The Gastric Band restricts stomach capacity so patients feel full faster and for longer and only need to eat in small amounts.  Smaller portions are easier to adapt to with the Gastric Band repressing the appetite. Patients should stick to only eating blended food immediately after surgery, gradually progressing to normal food once the stomach settles. An access port in the band allows saline solution to pass through to inflate the band so the size of the pouch can be adjusted as required for a flexible and controllable weight loss progress. The Gastric band procedure is reversible, so if patients really struggle with the restrictions or feel uncomfortable after surgery, the band can be removed.

Gastric balloon:

     Patients who are morbidly obese for other types of surgery may find that a Gastric Balloon can help them achieve their goals and it’s suitable for those who typically have a BMI of 27 to 35.Unlike a Gastric Band the main difference with a Gastric Balloon is that it’s a non-surgical procedure, carried out under local anaesthetic or a mild sedation.  A soft silicone balloon is implanted into the patients’ stomach during a short endoscopic procedure, taking approximately 20 minutes. An intra-gastric balloon procedure can usually be passed through the mouth, down into your stomach using an endoscope (a thin, flexible tube that has a light and a camera on one end).Patients are usually discharged the same day.

     Once the balloon has been filled with air or saline solution, it works in the same way as a Gastric Band by restricting the stomach capacity so patients feel fuller, quicker, making it easier to eat less and lose weight.  Unlike Gastric Band surgery that requires surgery to reverse, the Gastric Balloon is a temporary measure that is non-adjustable and usually removed after six months. As with a Gastric Band, a Balloon requires an ongoing commitment to changing attitudes towards food as after six months the onus is on the patient to continue with a healthy diet and stick to smaller portions.

Band versus Balloon – You Decide

     Gastric Bands and Balloons are often confused in the media but are actually very different obesity treatments. One factor remains the same – both require ongoing effort and motivation from the patient to ensure that substantial weight-loss is attained, and aftercare is an essential part of the procedure to assist the patient in changing relationships with food for the better for the rest of their lives.

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Written for: http://lifeasfit.blogspot.co.uk/