CHOOSING THE RIGHT PROCEDURE
Every patient is unique. Our team will take time with you to tailor an approach that satisfies your symptoms, medical history and personal desires for treatment. You will undergo a thorough examination as well as any investigations determined to be necessary to gain a full picture of your particular situation. With this information in mind, Dr Freeman will discuss options with you and recommend appropriate treatment.
It is common to have questions or doubts. We always encourage you to contact us at any stage to clarify concerns. Your doctor will take time to explain your options for treatment and the team will outline the logistics of diet, hospital stay and costs. We strive to equip you with all the information you need to make informed decisions about managing your health.
It is also important to remember that surgery should be seen as an aid for weight loss, not a replacement for diet and lifestyle modification. It is vital that eating behaviours are modified to get the best result from the procedure. It is also important to ensure a healthy diet, limiting caloric intake and to slow the speed of eating. If eating behaviours are not adapted after surgery, weight loss will be limited or weight regain can be possible in the future. More detailed information about correct eating behaviours will be covered during your visit with the dietitian.
Below is a simple description of what is involved in each procedure. We advise you to come in for a consultation to discuss this in further detail.
LAP BAND
The Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band, or LAGB, has been available to obese patients around the world since the 1990’s. It is a procedure that involves placement of a soft adjustable band, somewhat like a belt, around the upper part of the stomach. The aim of the procedure is to use band to create a small pouch out of the topmost part of the stomach.
SLEEVE GASTRECTOMY
This is a relatively new procedure that is performed by key hole (laparoscopic) surgery to significantly reduce the size of the stomach without interrupting the continuity of the gastrointestinal tract. This is a procedure that works to restrict the amount of food that the patient is able to eat and increase the feeling of fullness with each meal.
GASTRIC BYPASS
Gastric Bypass is a weight loss procedure that has been performed for more than 30 years. It is often a good choice for patients with reflux, diabetes, or who have had surgery in the past. Like most weight loss surgery, this is an operation that is most commonly performed with laparoscopic (keyhole) technique under general anaesthetic.
