Although laparoscopic gastric
banding is the safest surgical procedure for weight loss in America, you
still need to educate yourself on the risks. The Center for Devices and
Radiologic Health (CDRH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
completed its review for the laparoscopic adjustable gastric band in 2001 to
be used in the United States. It set out to approve application of this
device to be used as an investigational study at first, and closely
monitored its effectiveness and safety. Now after the 5 year trial,
laparoscopic gastric banding is fast becoming the number one choice in
surgical weight loss for Americans.
More patients are considering laparoscopic gastric
banding over gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy for the simple reasons that it is much
safer, and there are no anatomical changes made to the body; which
results in less risk of complications post-operatively. Studies have
shown that both patients who have undergone gastric bypass vs. those who
have had placement of the Inamed Lap-Band System have kept their weight
off even after 5 years. It has been reported that patients having
either procedure have lost comparable weight too.
