A Gastric Sleeve is an Option after a Failed Lap Band Surgery

After years of failing to lose weight and attempting diet and exercise, many obese people feel like they're at the end of their rope. This is when many of them will visit a bariatric surgeon about a lap band procedure. The operation, which restricts the amount of food a stomach can hold while making patients feel fuller faster, can have incredible effects. However, sometimes the lap band can be disappointing in a lot of ways that can include:

• Incorrectly performed lap band surgery. This can lead to pain, discomfort, and the inability to eat more than a few bites at a time.
• Some patients' bodies will reject the lap band outright because it is a foreign object.
• Improper aftercare. Weight loss surgery isn't the end of the road; it's a tool to help patients lose weight. If they aren't educated about their new bodies after surgery, there is a chance they won't be empowered to lose weight.
• Weight gain or insufficient weight loss. In rare cases, a restrictive weight loss surgery just isn't effective for a patient's body.

For patients experiencing any of these or other issues with their lap band, they should meet with bariatric surgeon, Michael Feiz, MD, FACS. In a meeting or free educational seminar at Dr. Feiz' office, those suffering with a prior lap band surgery can learn about a simple procedure to convert band to sleeve gastrectomy. This operation, which can be expertly performed via laparoscope by Dr. Feiz, removes the lap band while removing part of the stomach to create a sleeve-like pouch. The surgery corrects the problems associated with the lap band and, with Dr. Feiz' assistance, the patient can begin losing weight with their new stomach.

Give Dr. Feiz & Associates a call to discuss your options between keeping the lap band vs. gastric sleeve conversion.