When you are a widely renowned bariatric surgeon like Michael Feiz, M.D., F.A.C.S. of Dr. Feiz and Associates, you are often asked questions such as "which is the best kind of weight loss procedure?" This is basically impossible to answer because, as with the related matter of lap band vs. gastric sleeve, there is no one-size-fits-all prescription for bariatric procedures.

The fact of the matter is that, as trite as it sounds, every patient is different and so there is no blanket prescription. The lap band may be ideal for some patients because it is both reversible and adjustable. Still, the reason that lap band revision surgery often becomes a gastric sleeve procedure is that the reliability of the procedure makes it the superior choice when a prior procedure produces disappointing results.

Dr. Feiz has been at the forefront of suggesting why it is that the gastric sleeve after lap band may be a popular choice. While both the lap band and the sleeve drastically reduce the available portion of the stomach, Dr. Feiz points out that the area of the stomach removed during the sleeve procedure also includes the area primarily responsible for the production of ghrelin. This is the hormone which tells us that we need to eat, and which appears to be overly prevalent in obese people to the point that it drives them to eat even they know intellectually that they consumed much more than enough food. It may well be the reason that so few severely obese are able to lose weight and keep it off over long periods without a weight loss procedure.

That being said, many patients obtain excellent results with the lap band, and it has the benefit of allowing for further options later on down the line if results are less than ideal. Dr. Feiz and Associates knows that the questions surrounding which type of surgery are complex and highly individual. That is why they are delighted to offer prospective bariatric patients free seminars on a regular basis.