Lap Band System Surgery

Southcenter Cosmetic Surgery is now offering weight loss management services. Obesity is a life-threatening disease affecting millions of Americans. We see many patients requesting cosmetic surgery who cannot qualify because of their weight and it has become a disease of epidemic proportions in the USA.

We are very pleased to announce the opening of the new Seattle LAP BAND Center here at the Southcenter Cosmetic Surgery. Dr. Tony Mangubat has added a specialized bariatric "weight loss" surgeon to his talented staff.

Dr. Wael Kouli is board certified and fellowship-trained in bariatric surgery and has performed all forms of bariatric surgery including lap band surgery. We are confident that the lapband system can help you with your weight-loss journey.

Understanding Obesity

You've struggled with dieting and exercise - perhaps even used medication - to help lose weight. But despite all your best attempts, the pounds just don't seem to come off and stay off. And, you can't figure out why.

Take comfort in knowing that you are not to blame. Obesity is a complex disease with numerous causes, many of which you can't control.

According to the National Institutes of Health, there's a difference between being overweight and being obese. A person can be overweight for his/her height due to muscle, bone, fat and/or body water. Obesity occurs when a person has too much body fat, generally when for men the level is 25% and greater and for and women is 30% and greater. We use the Body mass index(BMI) in determining overweight and obesity levels.

Those who are morbidly obese put themselves at greater risk for serious illnesses that jeopardize health. That's why it's so important to seek help

If you are challenged by your weight, we can now help you with our support system that includes counseling, diet management and we now offer the LAP-BAND system in Seattle; a less-invasive bariatric weight loss surgery that has helped thousands of patients achieve their goal. Weight loss has many benefits besides looking great. Many patients are able to reduce or even eliminate their medications. Many have improved their high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and even cured their diabetes!

Gastric lap band, also known as laproscopic banding, reduces the amount of food that your stomach can hold and often makes you feel full even after a small meal. The lap band doesn't interfere with normal digestion and has proven to be one of the safest and most effective weight loss procedures today and, in qualified candidates, gastric banding can usually be done without a hospital stay, reducing cost and inconvenience.

Before Lap Band Surgery

Before your lap band surgery, you will talk in detail with the surgeon. The doctor may also want you to meet with other experts. They can help you understand what will happen during and after the operation. These experts may include a dietician, physiotherapist, psychologist, and other specialists. You will also need to have a number of tests before your surgery. These are to evaluate your health.

The Procedure

When it is time for the operation, you will receive general anesthesia. During the operation, the silicone ring band of the LAP BAND system is fastened like a belt around the upper part of your stomach. This will create a small stomach pouch that limits and controls the amount of food you can eat. This new upper pouch can hold only a small amount of food, so you will feel fuller sooner.

Part of the lower stomach will then be sutured over the band. The rest of the lower stomach will stay in its normal position. Once placed around the stomach, the lap band system is connected by a tube to an access port placed under the skin of your abdomen for adjusting the band. (Fig. A) This access port is used in the future to adjust the gastric band by adding or removing saline from the inner balloon, thereby effectively changing the diameter of the band.

If your case is typical, the operation will be done laproscopically via small incisions on the abdomen to insert long, thin surgical instruments. Then the laproscope (an instrument with a light and a tiny camera that sends images to a nearby monitor) is placed through an incision near the belly button. Laproscopic lap band surgery can be performed more quickly, and is less invasive and less traumatic than conventional surgery. (Fig. B)

After Lap Band Surgery

Once the anesthesia has worn off, you may feel some pain, which can usually be relieved with ordinary painkillers. If there are no complications, you should be able to resume normal activities within a week or two after the surgery.

After your lap band surgery, you will need a new diet. Your surgeon and/or dietician can help you learn and get used to the changes in lifestyle and eating habits you need to make. It is very important to follow the eating and drinking instructions right from the start after the operation. That's because you must allow your new stomach structure to heal completely and in the right position. It may take a month or more for this to happen.

In general, you will be on a liquid diet 1-2 weeks after the surgery, a pureed food diet 3-4 weeks after the operation, and on soft cooked foods 5 weeks post-operation.

Lap Band Adjustments

The Lap Band System can also be adjusted to meet your specific needs. Once implanted, the Lap Band System - like a belt - can be tightened or loosened by inflating or deflating its inner balloon. The inner balloon is inflated or deflated with saline solution via the access port and tubing. Lap Band adjustments can be made in a manner of minutes and can work to optimally control your food intake. The first adjustments are usually done 4-6 weeks after your surgery. You and your surgeon will determine when the right time is for your band adjustment.

If necessary, the lap band operation can also be "reversed" and the lap band system completely removed. In this case, your stomach will generally return to it's pre-surgery condition.

Lap Band Before-and-After Photos

Below are some dramatic before-and-after photos of patients who have undergone gastric lap band surgery. Each person is is a mere shadow of their former self, and are healthier, happier and more attractive.

Alan before Lap Band	Alan after Lap Band		Amanda before Lap Band	Amanda after Lap Band
Cyndi before Lap Band	Cyndi after Lap Band		Jodie before Lap Band	Jodie after Lap Band
Rebecca before Lap Band	Rebecca after Lap Band		Tess before Lap Band	Tess after Lap Band