Gastric Banding Surgery
July 17, 2009 by Australia Health
Filed under Surgery
Laparoscopic gastric banding surgery, introduced to Australia in 1994, has become the most widely used method of weight control surgery in the country. In 2005, more than 6,000 laparoscopic gastric banding procedures were performed in Australia. Laparoscopic gastric banding surgery or lap band surgery takes around 60-90 minutes and is performed using small incisions with long-shafted instruments. In the process, a lap band is fastened around the upper stomach to create a small pouch which restricts the amount of food that can be consumed. The procedure does not cut or staple the stomach or intestines, providing the option to reverse the treatment.
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The lap band helps weight loss and weight control by creating a sense of fullness and satisfying hunger sooner. Patients can lose up to 27kg of their excess weight in 12 months. Gastric bypass surgery is effective than non-surgical treatments and the patients need to stay for only 1-2 days in the hospital.
Lap band surgery is suitable for those who are 18 years or above or must not be pregnant or alcoholic or suffer from any illness that has caused weight gain.
The risks associated with laparoscopic gastric band are chances of slippage, erosion or other mechanical problems with the band, risks from medications and methods used during the surgical procedure, general surgical risks and the patient’s degree of intolerance to any foreign object implanted in the body.
The cost of gastric bypass surgery depends on the cost of surgeon, anesthetist, hospital, post-procedural medication and cost of gastric band. This surgery is not covered by Medicare Australia.
When Australia is facing an obesity epidemic which results in numerous other ailments or aggrevations as a result of being obese or severely overweight including life threatening diseases such as Heart disease, hypertension and painful conditions such as arthritis and knee and hip displacement, why then does Australian Medicare not cover Lap Band Surgery? Surely it costs thousands more to have open heart surgery, gastric bypass etc. together with the ongoing medication costs for treatment of these conditions plus more.
I think the Australian Government should rethink this situation immediately. It may not be the total solution but will certainly improve our national obesity epidemic.
I have gained about 42 kilos in the past 7 years through stress and I am at the point of feeling almost as a result. I NEVER go out anywhere for personal enjoyment. I go to work every day and shopping and to visit my mother but other than that, I go nowhere and see no-one for my own personal experience. Sadly, I am also a single parent and simply dont have hundreds let alone thousands to spend on myself for an operation of lapband surgery. I have tried and tried to lose the weight without success. 6 months of dieting and 2 hours of gym daily 6 times a week resulted in a 1 kilo loss.
I would be an ideal candidate for this surgery if only I could afford it. Sadly after paying private rent, paying power bills, phone bills etc and food and personal hygiene products for myself and my son I am left with very little for anything let alone surgery. I have had a broken tooth for 5 months.