Read below about the impact of LAP-BAND® Adjustable Gastric Banding Surgery on weight loss, medical conditions, and lifespan.

Weight Loss After LAP-BAND® Surgery
Weight loss after LAP-BAND® Adjustable Gastric Banding Surgery occurs gradually over 2-3 years and averages approximately 50-65% of excess weight. Studies show that less overweight patients tend to lose a higher percentage of their excess weight. Long-term studies (4-8 years) show that patients tend to maintain this weight loss over time. In the table below, numerous studies were compiled to show average weight loss at different time intervals after surgery.

Number of LAP-BAND® Studies	15 (~9000 patients)
Average Body Mass Index (BMI)	45
% Excess Weight Loss at 6 months	28-45%
% Excess Weight Loss at 12 months	38-61%
% Excess Weight Loss at 24 months	43-75%
% Excess Weight Loss at 36 months	51-72%
% Excess Weight Loss at 4-8 years	54-64%

It is important to remember that these weight loss results are averages. Patients can lose more or less weight than the average. Good eating and exercise habits are extremely important to maximize and maintain weight loss after surgery. Patients who commit themselves to establishing and maintaining healthy eating habits and regular exercise after surgery generally lose more weight than those who don't.

Impact of LAP-BAND® Surgery on Medical Problems
Many medical problems are associated with weight. Examples include diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, joint pain and arthritis, heartburn, asthma, depression, infertility, urinary stress incontinence, lower extremity swelling and headaches. Published studies show that all tend to either resolve or improve after LAP-BAND® Adjustable Gastric Banding surgery (see table below).

Medical Problem	Resolved of Improved
Diabetes	80-100%
Hypertension	45-100%
Sleep Apnea	80-100%
Joint/Back Pain	72-100%
Hyperlipidemia	67-81%
GERD	90%
Asthma	100%
Depression	83%

Impact of LAP-BAND® Surgery on Lifespan
There have been five published studies (including the long awaited Swedish Obesity Study published in the New England Journal of Medicine last August) showing decreased mortality in patients who have undergone weight loss surgery compared to patients who have not undergone surgery. The reason for this is the vast improvement in obesity related medical problems that occurs with weight loss after surgery. These impressive findings strongly support the use of weight loss surgery for obesity.

Complications After LAP-BAND® Surgery
A major benefit of LAP-BAND® Surgery is its safety. However, as with any surgery, there is the potential for complications to occur. We are proud of the fact that our complication rates are lower than the published benchmark rates (see below). We calculated our complication rates from the first 300 patients who underwent LAP-BAND® Adjustable Gastric Banding Surgery by Dr. Oliak after his fellowship training in 2001-2002.

Complications	Our Results (300 patients)	Other Good Studies^
Death	0	0.05%
Pulmonary Embolism	0	<0.2%
Band Erosion	0	<1%
Band Slippage	1%	2-3%
Port Complication	1%	2-4%
Band Removal	2%	<4%

^ References - call the office

The results reported in the right column above were taken from published studies done by experienced laparoscopic bariatric surgeons with low complication rates. Remember - less experienced surgeons may have much higher complication rates.

Learn More about LAP-BAND® Surgery!
To learn more we encourage you to attend a free, no-obligation informational seminar with Dr. Oliak - call our Orange County office at 1-800-997-1820 or send us an inquiry form today!