LAP-BAND® Surgery Outcomes

LAP-BAND® Weight Loss Results

Our LAP-BAND® patients average approximately 60% excess weight loss (EWL) 3-5 years after surgery (see table below). Our results are within the range reported by the best published Gastric Banding studies worldwide, which generally show approximately 50-60% EWL after 3 years.

Lower BMI patients (BMI 30-40) have been reported to achieve better percent excess weight loss results than heavier patients after LAP-BAND® Surgery. We have also found this to be true. Our low BMI patients (starting BMI 30-40) average approximately 70% excess weight loss after surgery.

---

Weight Loss after Surgery	Our Results (1000+ patients)
Excess Weight Loss - 6 months	46%
Excess Weight Loss - 12 months	62%
Excess Weight Loss - 18 months	64%
Excess Weight Loss - 2 years	64%
Excess Weight Loss - 3 years	62%
Excess Weight Loss - 4 years	59%
Excess Weight Loss - 5 years	60%

---

The weight loss results discussed on this page are averages - individual patients can lose more or less weight than the average (see Achieving Weight Loss Success section below).

Calculating Excess Weight Loss after LAP-BAND® Surgery

Excess weight is the amount of weight over ideal weight. Ideal weights are published in the Metropolitan Life Insurance height-weight tables. These tables display weight ranges for small, medium, and large frame sizes. Ideal weight is considered to be the maximum weight in the large frame size range. To calculate the percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL) divide weight lost by maximum excess weight and multiply by 100. The tables include one inch of height for shoes, so one inch needs to be added to actual height to see the correct weight range.

---

Achieving Weight Loss Success

Many studies (>500) have been published describing weight loss after LAP-BAND® and REALIZE® Band Surgery. The good studies show that surgery results in significant weight loss (average 50-60% EWL) in the average patient.

Not all studies show equally good results - weight loss outcomes after surgery are highly variable between different practices, surgeons, and patients. This is because successful weight loss after LAP-BAND® Surgery requires all of the following: a well-performed operation, appropriate band adjustment (not too tight or too loose), and appropriate eating/exercise habits. Different programs have varying levels of success with these three items.

Our Orange County LAP-BAND® Program focuses on two things: (1) providing excellent surgery to give our patients a safe and highly effective tool for weight loss, and (2) providing effective education, follow-up, and support to help our patients establish the eating/exercise habits that result in long-term success. The result of this focus has been superior LAP-BAND® weight loss outcomes, as described above.

---

LAP-BAND® Complication Rates

Gastric Banding is a safe and low risk operation when performed by a qualified, experienced, and proven bariatric surgeon. However, as with all surgery, there is the potential for complications to occur. Dr. Oliak, in addition to having the appropriate qualifications and more than 10 years of experience with almost 2500 laparoscopic bariatric operations, has a long record of surgical outcomes that rank with the best published LAP-BAND® outcomes worldwide (see table below).

---

Complications	Our Results (1000+ patients)	Other Good Studies
Mortality	0	0.05%
Pulmonary Embolism	0.1%	0.2%
Band Erosion	0	up to 1%
Band Slippage	1%	1-4%
Port Complication	1%	1-4%
Band Removal	2%	up to 4%

---

It is important to understand that the results reported in the right column above were taken from published studies done by experienced laparoscopic bariatric surgeons with low complication rates. Other studies, with less experienced surgeons, report higher complication rates.