Casey Said:

is there a yahoo group for gastric band surgery in belgium?

We Answered:

hi there

yes there is, it just formed and is looking for new members.

you can find it here

Is there a yahoo group for gastric band surgery in Belgium

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Gastri-ban_Belgium_France/

Hope that helps you to find the information you need on gastric band surgery in belgium

Kent Said:

Advice for lap / gastric band surgery advise, London?

We Answered:

I don't know that they would do the procedure on a woman of her age especially if she has high blood pressure, diabetic, or serious medical issues. It is a high risk surgery especially if you have any issues that would compromise normal healing afterwards. Best thing to do is discuss it with a doctor...

Jerome Said:

How many lbs overweight do you have to be to get gastric band surgery?

We Answered:

You need a BMI of 40 or more, or a BMI of between 35-40 and a serious health condition that could be improved if you lose weight, such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure.

You have tried all the appropriate non-surgical methods, such as diet and exercise, but have failed to achieve or maintain a beneficial level of weight loss for at least six months,

You agree to commit to the need for long-term follow-up treatment after surgery at a specialised obesity service, and you are fit and healthy enough to withstand the anaesthetic (painkilling medication) and surgery.

Jill Said:

Is there a british insurance company that will cover gastric band surgery?

We Answered:

health-quotes.talk4fun.net - here is my health insurance plan. As I remember they can provide such a service.

Nicole Said:

What is the difference between gastric bypass surgery, stomach stapling and gastric band surgery?

We Answered:

Gastric bypass: The stomach is surgically transected (cut apart) and the top part is connected to the small intestine, while the lower portion of the stomach is left sewed up and connected to the small intestine as normal. Gastric juices produced by the lower, unused, part of the stomach continue to flow into the intestine. The upper part of the stomach, which is very thick and tough, becomes the "pouch" that holds a smaller amount of food. It is connected to the intestine, with the place they are joined called an anastamosis. It is usually a bit farther down the intestinal tract, so calories and nutrients don't get as readily absorbed. Hence, you lose weight by only being able to eat small amounts of food, and since the digesting food doesn't go through the entire length of the small intestine, weight is also lost though some malabsorbtion of calories and nutrients.

Gastric stapling: The stomach is just stapled so that part of it is made smaller. Weight loss is accomplished because the amount of food eaten is restricted. There is no loss through malabsorbtion. A big drawback to this is that eating larger amounts of food can expand the stomach and "pop" the staples, essentially undoing the surgery and causing weight gain. This surgery is no longer done, but you still hear gastric bypass surgery referred to as "stomach stapling" which is totally inaccurate.

Gastric band surgery: This is done by making a small incision in the abdomen, through which a surgeon places an inflatable band around the top part of the stomach. There is a tube connected to the inflatable band, and a port, or sort of rubber stopper, is placed under the skin of the abdomen. After the surgery is done, the surgeon can "fill" the inflatable tube by inserting a needle through the skin and into the rubber stopper. The band works by restricting the amount of food a person can eat. If they are able to eat too much and are not losing weight, the surgeon can add more fluid through the port and inflate the band a bit more. Conversely, if the person can only eat small amounts, or is vomiting it back up, the band may be too tight and some fluid can be removed. Sometimes it takes several attempts to get the band inflated just right.