Our LAP-BAND® Surgery Outcomes
Our 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 (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 weight loss success after Gastric Banding Surgery requires the following in addition to the surgery: appropriate band adjustment to control hunger, and appropriate eating and exercise habits.
Our Orange County LAP-BAND® Program focuses on education, follow-up, and support to help our patients quickly achieve good hunger control and establish appropriate eating habits. The result is better LAP-BAND® weight loss outcomes, as described above.
Our LAP-BAND® Complication Rates
Gastric Banding is considered a safe and low risk operation when performed by a qualified and experienced bariatric surgeon. However, as with all surgery, there is the potential for complications to occur (see table below). Our experience has been that complications occur infrequently, tend to not be dangerous, and are straightforward to deal with when they develop. As you can see from the table below, our complication rates are lower than the rates published in other good studies.
| 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. Less experienced surgeons may have much higher complication rates.
Arlene's story...
Prior to surgery I appeared happy on the outside, but was unhappy on the inside because of how I looked and felt. I used food to feed that unhappiness. At size 28 it was easy to look harshly at myself and not like what I saw.
But Dr. Oliak and the LAP-BAND® surgery changed my life forever. After losing over 140 pounds, I not only look and feel better; my attitude towards food has completely changed. Today food is the fuel that runs my body, not my life.