There are several different types of weight loss surgery available today including the relatively new procedure of gastric lap banding which is growing in popularity and is fast becoming the preferred choice for many morbidly obese individuals. But are you a suitable candidate for gastric lap banding?



In answering this question we will start by assuming that you are a suitable candidate for weight loss surgery in general and that your only concern therefore is whether or not you should consider lap banding. In very simple terms this means that you are over the age of 18, are morbidly obese with a body mass index (BMI) in excess of 40 (or in excess of 35 with one or more co-morbid conditions) and that you have already tried traditional weight loss methods (including possible drug treatment) without success.

It is often assumed that individuals facing weight loss surgery are simply overweight and it is easy to forget that people who are severely overweight are often suffering from a variety of other conditions, many of which arise out of the fact that they are overweight. It is these other conditions that often present an obstacle when it comes to choosing between different surgical options.

As gastric lap banding is a form of restrictive surgery in which the stomach is physically restricted in size to limit the quantity of food that can pass through the stomach and digestive system, it follows that this form of surgery is unlikely to be suitable if your esophagus, stomach or intestine are abnormal. Such abnormality may be either congenital or acquired and a common problem seen is a narrowing at one or more points along the digestive tract.

Problems within the esophagus or stomach which may result in bleeding (such as esophageal or gastric varices ? a dilated vein) would also rule out gastric lap banding, as will difficulties at the site where the band is to be placed around the stomach, such as an injury, scarring or gastric perforation.

Problems may also arise if you suffer from any form of inflammation or inflammatory disease within the gastrointestinal tract like ulcers, esophagitis or Crohn's disease.

Finally, gastric lap banding is not suitable for pregnant women or where pregnancy is contemplated. Should pregnancy occur after gastric lap banding surgery the band can be deflated to allow for an increased nutritional requirement but, where loosening the band is not in itself sufficient, the band may need to be removed.

One benefit of the gastric lap banding system is that the procedure is reversible and, should it prove necessary, the band can be removed returning the stomach to its original state. This can however also be a disadvantage of the system. Motivation is key to any form of weight loss surgery but becomes a particular issue in the case of gastric lap banding. If there is any doubt about your determination to succeed then this form of surgery may not be a good option for you.