Bariatric surgeries have existed since the 1960s and since then have become one of the best ways for chronically obese people to rapidly lose weight in a year or less. These surgeries can completely change a person’s life and health in a short time.
However, gastric bypass and gastric sleeve surgeries are highly invasive and cannot be easily reversed if you were to get them. As a result, reversible and temporary weight loss procedures were invented. One of them is the adjustable gastric band, also called the Lap-Band.
To qualify for any bariatric procedure, you have to be at or above a certain BMI. But how overweight do you have to be to qualify for Lap-Band surgery in Mexico?
What Is the Lap-Band (Adjustable Gastric Band)?
The Lap-Band is the brand name of a type of adjustable gastric band. Adjustable gastric bands were created in order to provide a reversible alternative to the highly invasive and irreversible gastric bypass surgery.
The way the Lap-Band works is that the band is wrapped around the stomach. Then, the band is constricted, creating a temporary “stomach pouch”. This pouch is a fraction of the total volume of the stomach. This way, you feel full much quicker and are unable to eat as much food in one sitting.
The surgery is performed laparoscopically through a small incision in the abdomen. The procedure is relatively quick and most patients are able to go home either the same day or the next day. Recovery is much shorter than the gastric bypass, as well.
How Overweight Must You Be to Get the Lap Band?
The Lap-Band procedure has the same requirements as gastric bypass surgery. Generally, a patient qualifies for Lap-Band if they have a BMI of above 40 OR they have a BMI above 35 along with one or more obesity-related conditions (such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or sleep apnea). A patient must also have a documented history of weight loss attempts with diet and exercise.
If you do not qualify for the Lap-Band, it’s highly recommended that you try to lose weight with diet and exercise.
Many surgeons nowadays do not recommend the Lap-Band for most patients, as the gastric sleeve procedure is much more effective and boasts a similar price tag to the gastric band.
If you’re considering getting weight loss surgery, check out this article for tips before surgery.
ALO Bariatric in Mexico offers Lap Band surgery, as well as gastric bypass in Mexico, gastric sleeve in Mexico, and duodenal switch procedures.
