Gastric Band Surgery in Mexico

Laparoscopic adjustable gastric band surgery (lap band) is a type of bariatric surgery for obese individuals with a BMI of 40 or greater, or for those with a BMI of between 35–40 in cases of patients with certain syptoms that are known to improve with weight loss.
As of 2010, laparoscopic gastric banding is considered the least invasive weight loss surgery, as well as the safest.

The gastric band operation involves placing an adjustable band around the upper part of the stomach thus creating a pouch. Since the pouch is much smaller then your original stomach, it fills up quickly.
The food you eat passes slowly through a narrow opening created by the band, into the lower part of your stomach. The food then passes normally through the rest of your digestive system, enabling the normal digestion process to continue.

The lap band procedure can be reversed, and in time, the stomach generally returns to its normal size.

Potential weight loss:
On average, lap-band patients can expect to lose 40% of the excess weight.
The range of excess weight loss is 0-70%.

Duration of procedure/surgery:
The operation usually takes 30 minutes to one hour.

Days admitted:
Usually 1-2 days at the hospital.

Anesthesia:
General anesthesia

Risks:
The mortality rate is quite low: only 1 in 2000.
Complications occur in approx. 10% of patients.
Potential complications include:
- Gastritis (irritated stomach tissue).
- Erosion - The band may slowly migrate through the stomach wall to the inside.
- Stomach Slippage - An unusual occurrence in which the lower part of the stomach may prolapse through the band causing an enlarged upper pouch.
- Malposition of the band - Which can cause a kink in the stomach.
- Psychological intolerance
- Internal bleeding
- Infection