March 25, 2010

Lap Band - Successful Lap Band Surgery is Not Just About the Process, It's About the Doctor Too

If you are considering Lap Band Surgery, you obviously have come to a point on your weight loss journey where you are ready for change. That is good. While the lap band procedure may not be right for everyone there are seemingly endless success stories. I'm not a medical professional but it would seem to me that the most important aspect of choosing to go forward with the procedure is not the proven process but rather the doctor. Be sure to consider some of the following before taking this important step on your weight loss journey.

Lap Band Surgery is a simple one-hour procedure with few side effects. The costs typically range from $15,000- $18,000 and is covered by insurance in cases where the patient is 75 pounds overweight and has a Body Mass Index over 40. You can go home the same day and be back to work later in the week. It usually consists of 5 small incisions that fade virtually away within a year. Patients experience weight loss of 15-20 pounds the first month, peaking at 2 years with an average loss of 60% of excess weight.

The procedure allows for hunger to disappear almost immediately and you will experience less food cravings. Ailments associated with obesity, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, snoring, back pain and joint pain often vanish in just a few weeks. And the band can be deflated or adjusted for a variety of reasons such as: pregnancy, disease, the desire to "eat normally" on a trip, etc.

This is different than gastric bypass or the experimental balloon so the nasty side effects of those procedures are avoided. So you should not have to worry about things like mal-nutrition and absorption, mineral and protein deficiencies, overly accelerated weight loss that leaves hanging and "doughy" skin and the high incidence of gall stones.

When choosing the correct doctor to perform your Lap Band Surgery, it is important you develop a personal comfort level with him or her. Not only are you relying on their knowledge and expertise, it is important for your own psychological well being that you have absolute confidence in their experience with the procedure. And that they have an excellent track record.

One doctor in Los Angeles that meets the criteria is Dr. David G. Davtyan - and research shows him to be one of the most experienced LapBand surgeons in the America. He possesses a deep understanding of the gastric banding procedure because he is also a LapBand patient himself. Dr. Davtyan knows the challenges of obesity. In 2001 he weighed and additional 90 pounds. This former oncology surgeon, having already experienced the LapBand procedure as a patient himself has a special awareness and understanding.

According to their website: "Dr. Davtyan studied the LAP-BAND® procedure in Brussels, Belgium where it was first introduced. He performed his first LAP-BAND® operation in October 2001 in Brussels with one of the LAP-BAND® pioneers, Professor Guy-Bernard Cadiere. Dr. Davtyan became one of the first surgeons in the United States to offer the LAP-BAND® after FDA approval in April 2001."

Dr. Davtyan has offices throughout southern California, including: Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Glendale and Orange County and he operates at affiliated hospitals and outpatient centers.

Also, he now offers the new Realize Band as well.

So as you pursue your new life with this FDA approved, proven procedure - be sure to get to know the person doing the operation. After all, if the process is proven isn't the most important decision the one that gives you the personal piece of mind and comfort? Successful Lap Band Surgery is not just about the process, it's about the doctor too.