Weight Loss Surgery: An Effective Treatment For Obesity

Weight loss surgery is designed for people who are 50 pounds or more overweight and have been unsuccessful losing weight using traditional weight loss methods. In addition, usually a patient will have an obesity related illness or may be at risk of developing an illness such as diabetes, stroke, heart disease, respiratory illness, etc. The most common types of weight loss surgery performed are gastric bypass and adjustable gastric banding (Lap Band). Today, weight loss surgery has proven to be an effective treatment for obesity and obesity related health problems.

Obesity is a disease that can cause a great deal of harm to the mind and the body. People suffering from obesity will often not only have physical illnesses that can be life threatening, but they also often suffer from emotional problems such as depression and low self-esteem. When people are considering weight loss surgery, they will first consult with their physician to determine if they qualify to be a candidate for the procedure. They will also meet with a weight loss surgeon to determine which surgery is best for them and to learn more about the procedure. Lap band surgery is a very common choice.

Lap band surgery involves banding the upper part of the stomach in order to reduce the size of the stomach. The purpose is to make the stomach smaller so less food is consumed thereby causing weight loss. It is a less invasive procedure as it does not include stapling or cutting the stomach. Small incisions are made so that the lap band can be inserted. Once it is in place, it is inflated with saline to form a gastric pouch. The procedure will not disrupt the normal digestive processes. The procedure only takes about 45 minutes and the patient can go home that say with a specific diet program that will help the patient lose weight and learn how to eat properly. The diet, which includes restricted calorie intake, has to be followed so no problems develop with the lap band device. Eating the wrong food or eating bigger portions than instructed can result in band problems such as band slippage, nausea, and vomiting.

Obesity has become a serious health epidemic in our society. Weight loss surgery provides hope for people who are obese and cannot lose weight through traditional diet and exercise programs. Patients must be willing to commit to a healthy lifestyle for life and follow the diet plan as well as a healthy exercise program. People who have weight loss surgery will get a new lease on life. They will be healthier, more active, do things they have never been able to do, reduce or eliminate illnesses that developed as a result of being obese, and they will have improved self esteem and self confidence. If you are suffering from obesity and have failed to lose weight when trying all of the traditional diet and exercise programs, you may want to consult with your physician about having weight loss surgery.

August 10, 2011 | Posted in Obesity, Weight Loss Surgery | Tagged , | Comment >>

New Study Finds That Gastric Banding Pays for Itself

Analysis Demonstrates Gastric Banding is a Safe and Cost-Effective Weight-Loss Surgery Procedure

A new study published in the peer-reviewed journal Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases in June 2011 found the cost of a gastric banding weight-loss surgery procedure, such as Allergan’s LAP-BAND® Adjustable Gastric Banding System, was offset by reductions in obesity-related medical costs within 2.25 years for surgery eligible patients with diabetes, and within four years of the procedure for all surgery eligible patients.

The study evaluated healthcare claims data from 7,310 patients who had undergone gastric banding compared to claims from a matched control group of 7,306 surgery eligible obese individuals who did not have weight-loss surgery, for the purpose of quantifying the potential savings of gastric banding. The study found that while post-surgery medical costs for the gastric banding group declined slightly, medical costs for the control group continued to rise, thus resulting in significant savings for the banding sample. These findings underscore the critical effect gastric banding has on containing healthcare costs among the target population.

“Although the gastric banding procedure is associated with upfront costs, our analysis shows that those costs are recovered in a relatively short period of time, particularly for obese patients with diabetes,” said study lead author Eric A. Finkelstein, Ph.D., of Duke University and Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School in Singapore. “Although the potential for cost-savings should not drive coverage decisions, some insurance providers are hesitant to cover the costs of bariatric procedures for fear they will break the bank. These results may allay some of those concerns,” Finkelstein said.

A new Statistics Canada survey found that between 2007 and 2009, 24.1 per cent of adults in Canada were obese. Due to increased medical expenditures, absenteeism, and presenteeism (reduced on the job productivity due to health reasons), obesity costs Canadian businesses billions per year. Given its known correlation to life-threatening co-morbid conditions, such as heart disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and even premature death, obesity is a disease that requires medical treatment.

Dr. Arya Sharma, professor of medicine and chair for cardiovascular obesity research and management at the University of Alberta, said Canada is eating its way into a public health crisis.”We’re not where the Americans are yet, but the numbers are still very alarming,” he said. “When you consider the medical costs of obesity, of treating related cases of diabetes, heart disease, hip and knee replacements, it’s clear that we have a serious problem.”

Sharma said obesity has to be treated as a “chronic disease” by the public-health system despite the cost of radical interventions, such as surgery. “For many, surgery may be the only alternative,” he said. “Can we afford it? What we can’t afford is to do nothing. In severe obesity cases where surgery is appropriate, we find that the health system starts saving money on the patient two years after surgery because we’ve brought other health risks under control.”

Tom Saridis, CEO & Founder of the Canadian Institute of Bariatric Options – CIBO Clinic in Toronto asserts, “The resolution of obesity related health conditions is one of the many benefits of LAP-BAND® surgery. Many patients reduce or eliminate the need for medications as they lose weight.” Doctors are starting to realize the many benefits of sending patients for bariatric surgery intervention in a specialized clinic setting where all aspects of care are addressed. “At CIBO Clinic, we make sure that patients receive customized medical, psychological, nutritional and physical assistance to help them use the LAP-BAND effectively to lose weight. Every patient is different and meeting their needs is important as they work to reach their weight loss goals. Our support doesn’t end after surgery, that’s only the beginning”.

This study supports earlier research about the improvement or resolution of co-morbid conditions. Losing weight can result in: 93% resolution/improvement in asthma, 79% resolution/improvement of hypertension, 90% resolution/improvement in type 2 diabetes, 93% resolution/improvement of obstructive sleep apnea, 90% resolution/improvement of GERD (reflux), Dixon et al. Obes Surg. 1999; Dixon et al. Diabetes Care. 2002.; Dixon et al. Arch Intern Med. 2001.; Dixon et al. Obes Surg. 1999.

Jennifer Walsh, staff psychotherapist at CIBO Clinic in Toronto, also notes that depression and workplace absenteeism plays a large factor in the life of an obese person. “It’s not uncommon for patients to move from hopelessness to hopefulness as they receive the support they need. As they lose weight they realize the path ahead can offer opportunities they had long forgotten and begin to participate more fully in their work and social lives.”

“This study is consistent with the vast findings from the published literature that support gastric banding is an effective and safe weight-loss surgery procedure that can produce sustained weight loss, ultimately resulting in reduction of obesity-related comorbid conditions and medical costs,” said Frederick Beddingfield, M.D., Allergan’s Vice President of Clinical Research and Development. “Research of this kind is integral in our efforts as a company to ensure appropriate access to and affordability for the LAP-BAND® System procedure for patients across the country.”

About CIBO Clinic
The Canadian Institute of Bariatric Options – CIBO Clinic is a total care obesity management facility providing medically advanced solutions for bariatric patients. CIBO Clinic is committed to helping patients achieve life-long weight management. By helping patients achieve lasting weight loss, their fear of health and mobility problems can be reduced, often eliminated. CIBO Clinic is the first and only clinic to provide customized patient programs in four distinct areas of care: medical, nutritional, psychological and physical. Conveniently located in central Toronto, Ontario, CIBO Clinic has state-of-the-art bariatric care medical suites, experienced and respected bariatric surgeons, comprehensive support program services with an on-site team of professionals, a fitness mobility and rehabilitation room, and encouraging and caring staff that provide support for patients throughout Canada.

About the LAP-BAND® System
The LAP-BAND® System was originally approved by Health Canada and the FDA in 2001 for use in severely obese adults, individuals with a BMI of 35 with at least one severe comorbid condition or a BMI of 40. In February 2011, the LAP-BAND® System became the first and only FDA-approved device for bariatric surgery for use in obese patients with a BMI of 30-35 with at least one obesity-related comorbid conditions. The LAP-BAND® System has been approved internationally since 1993, and over the past 18 years, more than 650,000 procedures have been performed, leading to more than two million patient years of exposure for the device. As such, the LAP-BAND® System has an 18-year safety and effectiveness record.

June 30, 2011 | Posted in Weight Loss Surgery | Comment >>

Nisrine’s Lap Band Story

My name is Nisrine and I used to weigh 295 pounds. I used to live in a very different world from the one I lived today. I think people out there who are obese and who are overweight will understand exactly what I’m talking about. It’s not a life anybody wants to live. It really is not. You just don’t live.

I wasted a lot of my life, especially my twenties. I’m not that same person anymore. I look at old pictures and I see her, but I don’t feel like I am her. I know her so well. I feel so bad for her. She was a very sad person. It was awful. I lied to myself. I wouldn’t admit it at the time, but I was a very sad person back then.

After trying and failing at so many diets, I finally found the lap band and I got it. I realized that was what I needed. That was the extra push and support I needed it to help my efforts at losing weight. I lost weight, I kept losing weight and I got to my goal. This year, it’s ten years post-op. I’m still maintaining.

CIBO Clinic is truly the best clinic out there. It is the best clinic to have this done. The lap band is truly amazing, but it really is a tool. CIBO Clinic gives you the power and the know-how to use this tool so you can be successful. With the lap band and the CIBO Clinic, you have everything you need.

May 10, 2011 | Posted in Lap-Band Stories | Comment >>

Tom’s Lap Band Story

My name is Tom Saridis. I am the founder and CEO of the CIBO clinic. My story started five years ago when I decided to change my life by having the lap band procedure. I battled obesity for my whole life. At my heaviest weight, I was 508 pounds back in 2004. After having lap band procedure, I lost 300 pounds ever since.

I’ve written my life off by the time I was 40. When you do that, you basically work towards that goal. I just allowed the weight to continue to go on, because I was going to get 40 and figured that’s all I was ever going to live. If you’ve got a weight problem, forget about just trying to go back to dieting. We’ve all done it. Make the decision to change your life. Don’t live behind this whole “I can do it on my own”. If you could have done it alone, you would’ve done it already.

There’s no shame in having to go through surgery as a way to treat an illness and a disease. After I had my surgery, I felt very devastated that where I went, they did not offer me any after-care. When I decided to open up my facility, the CIBO Clinic, I realized that the aftercare is the essential tools required for the end goal of losing weight and getting healthy.

What losing weight has done for me is to allow me to engage in my own life, in my business life, and in my family life. It’s no longer about me having to worry about the everyday activities that everybody else does. It allows me to do the things that I want.

CIBO Clinic is about empowering people. CIBO Clinic is about giving people the ability to not be trapped behind this disease. It’s about giving everybody the opportunity to live life the way they want.

May 10, 2011 | Posted in Lap-Band Stories | Comment >>

Linda’s Lap Band Story

I wish I could convince everybody that needs a surgery that it works. Who cares if it takes five years to pay it off? If it makes you feel twenty years younger, it is worth every penny. I have been successful at losing weight before. I have never been successful at keeping weight off.

That’s the hardest part. Now, why is that? Why do people have a hard time with that?

That’s the million dollar question to find the answer to that. This has worked. This has worked for me and I have kept it off. I’ve got every confidence at staying off now because it is keeping me in check. It’s a fantastic tool. It always keeps me from overeating. I have, of course, done the WeightWatchers thing and everybody tries their own thing. You do a million fat diets and a million other things, like the secret pill that will solve all your problems in your life, right? Unfortunately, they don’t work.

What happened was that I was googling about gastric bypass, which just seemed really radical for me. It’s just too much. But in getting information and being educated on that, I tripped across this literally on the Internet. I was pretty impressed. I was impressed enough to give them a call. Then I thought, ‘Oh, what the heck, it’s just a drive to Toronto. Let me go see what’s going on and see what they have to say’.

Once I got here, once I met some of the staff and some of the health care professionals here, no question I was in the right spot. My heaviest was 247 pounds, but I’m only 5 foot 2, so that’s a lot of weight for someone who’s only 5 foot 2 to carry. There are women who are almost 6 feet and carry that kind of weight and look great. But for somebody who’s 5 foot 2, that’s rather round.

How much have you lost?

I lost 85 pounds.

How does it feel being 85 pounds lighter?

I can’t even describe this. The energy level is unbelievable. I don’t even know where to start! You just feel so much better. The confidence, I always thought I was a confident person before. My confidence level is right through the roof now.

May 5, 2011 | Posted in Lap-Band Stories | Comment >>

Kori’s Lap Band Story

I came in on my first day and signed up on that day. I didn’t think about it, I didn’t go home, I just signed up. I said, “Let’s go. Do it.” I didn’t want to wait. I just wanted to get it over with. It’s rewarding and I’m really glad I did it.

At what weight are you at in your weight loss journey?

I’m at the end. I reached my goal. I started at 269 pounds. I’m now 130 pounds. I lost 140 pounds. You can go into a store and pick something. You can say “This is going to fit me!” It’s not “Will it fit me? Can I look for the biggest size?” It’s “This is going to fit me!” It doesn’t matter what size I need, because they have it.

A lot of people are going to say, “This looks good on you”. I actually believe them. And honestly, nothing looks good on you when you avoid. Clothes don’t fit properly. You can’t make yourself feel beautiful. You won’t feel beautiful until you’re happy with yourself. I wasn’t happy with myself at all.

Do you still get emotional about it?

I’m just happy about it. I went through high school, I went through grade school, and everybody made fun of me. But it’s behind me. You have to look forward. You have to be positive. You have to embrace who you are now and not what you were, because it doesn’t matter about the past. It matters about the future.

I am sure a lot of people have been going back and forth about the idea. It’s not cheap and it’s a commitment. So, what do you say to somebody who’s thinking about getting a lap band procedure and coming to the CIBO clinic?

This is it. This is the only thing that’s going to make you become the person that you want to be. If weight loss is something that bothers you, which bothers a lot of people for health reasons and for personal reasons, this is the only place that’s going to make you happy.

I know at the beginning, I had problems. I wasn’t losing weight as fast. Their team, they’re always here. The nutritionists, ready to help you, willing to sit down with you, and plan a meal with you. Even if you are the pickiest eater, they will find something for you to eat, for you to maintain your weight, and for you to become healthy. Their team is excellent. I love them. If I could do it all over again, I would still come here.

May 5, 2011 | Posted in Lap-Band Stories | Comment >>

Dr. Dennis Hong Invited to Speak at the 2nd Annual Obesity Summit

Dr. Dennis Hong Invited to Speak at the 2nd Annual Obesity Summit Organized by the Canadian Obesity Network in Montreal

Dr. Dennis Hong, Medical Director and Chief Surgeon at CIBO Clinic will be speaking at the 2nd Annual Obesity Summit in Montreal on April 29 , 2011 on Bariatric Surgery: Access to Surgery in Canada. The annual conference is part of a new initiative by the Canadian Association of Bariatric Physicians and Surgeons and the Canadian Obesity Network fight the growing obesity epidemic in Canada. Over 600 obesity researchers and practitioners will attend. Dr. Hong was also asked to be part of the CON-RCO Science and Organizing Committees.

In addition to being Ontario’s lead fellowship trained bariatric and adjustable gastric lap-band surgeon, Dr. Hong shares his expertise by teaching medical students, residents and laparoscopic fellows at the Centre of Minimal Access Surgery at St. Joseph’s Hospital, McMaster University. Dr. Hong has been involved in bariatric and laparoscopic research and has been involved in many studies, many of which have been presented at national and international meetings. Dr. Hong has performed over 1,000 laparoscopic bariatric procedures including adjustable gastric lap-banding, gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy and biliopancreatic diversion.

Dr. Hong obtained his MD from the University of Toronto and completed his general surgery residency at McMaster University. During his residency, Dr. Hong took a year off to obtain his Masters in Clinical Epidemiology. He completed a laparoscopic fellowship in Portland, Oregon with Dr. Lee Swanstrom and a laparoscopic bariatric fellowship in Brisbane, Australia with Dr. George Fielding. Following his fellowship, he returned to Portland, Oregon and worked as a laparoscopic bariatric surgeon for four years prior to returning to Canada.

Dr. Hong is an active member of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons (ASMBS), the Society of Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), Canadian Association of General Surgeons (CAGS) and other professional societies.

April 29, 2011 | Posted in Obesity | Comment >>

What is Involved in Adjustable Gastric Banding Weight Loss Surgeries?

Today, adjustable gastric band, known as lap-band, has become a surgical weight loss solution to help people who are obese lose the excess weight and keep it off. Lap band is a safe weight loss procedure that has been clinically proven to be an effective weight loss solution. This weight loss surgery helps people lose weight by controlling hunger, the food portions they consume which makes them feel full faster, and it slows the digestion process. Patients can normally expect to lose 40 to 80lbs per year or more.

The adjustable gastric band is made out of silastic which is a non toxic material used in medical devices. It does not break down or deteriorate over time and can be safely left inside the body for life. The surgeon places the adjustable gastric band around the upper portion of the stomach. It creates a small gastric pouch which controls the opening between the two parts of the stomach. The larger portion of the stomach lies below the band and the new small upper stomach can only hold a small amount of food at a time. This helps you feel full faster so you eat less food. Because the band creates a narrow passage, it takes food longer to pass through it and get digested. This means you do not feel hungry between meals.

The adjustable gastric band is completely customized for weight loss because it is adjustable. The band is attached to tubing connected to a port that lies under the fat and skin of the stomach wall. If the band is too tight or too loose, the surgeon will adjust it to by adding or removing saline solution as needed to ensure weight loss. The band helps you achieve sustainable weight loss, increase energy and well-being, and reduces obesity related illnesses such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and breathing problems.

In order to achieve weight loss success, you must be fully committed to following the dietary changes and lifestyle changes you will need to make to maintain the weight loss. The Adjustable Gastric Banding Weight Loss Surgery (Lap Band) is a proven method of losing weight for life which why this safe and minimally invasive procedure is one of the most popular weight loss surgeries.

You must meet certain criteria to be a candidate for lap band surgery. The patient should have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 35 or more or 30 with health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, breathing problems, diabetes…etc. Before you are chosen as a candidate, you will be medically screened to ensure that you are healthy enough to have the procedure.

Obesity rates have been increasing at an alarming rate. For the obese, the Adjustable Gastric Banding Weight Loss Surgery (Lap Band) is a proven method of achieving long term weight loss. When considering lap band surgery, it is important to discuss the surgery with a physician or weight loss surgeon to help you assess your options before you make your final decision.

April 25, 2011 | Posted in Weight Loss Surgery | Comment >>

What is the Importance of the Gastric Band in the leading Lap-Band Weight Loss Surgery?

For people suffering from obesity and obesity related illnesses, it is extremely difficult trying to lose weight using traditional methods such as dieting or a weight loss product such as pills and keep the weight off. Today, weight loss surgery is often recommended to help patients lose their excess weight. Lap-Band Surgery is one of the more popular weight loss surgery choices as it has proven results and it is a safe and minimally invasive weight loss procedure.

There are many gastric bands available. The Lap-Band is the only band that has more than 10 years of clinical data available on it’s efficacy and safety making it the gastric band of choice. A weight loss surgeon will place a silicone inflatable band around the upper part of the stomach. This results in an upper and lower pouch that is linked by a narrow channel. The lower pouch is large while the upper pouch is very small, about the size of an egg. This reduces the amount of food that it can hold. A patient will eat less and feel full which leads to weight loss. When food goes into the upper part, it fills it up and then exits the upper part and goes into the lower part via the narrow channel. Because the channel is so narrow, digestion takes a long time and which makes people not feel hungry. The lap-band is adjustable and reversible. To make an adjustment, the surgeon will add or withdraw saline from the gastric pouch that the lab band created when placed around the upper part of the stomach. The surgery itself takes about 30 – 45 minutes to perform. As well, it is the only reversible weight loss surgery available as the band can be removed at any time.

After having the surgery, patients generally report losing about 2 pounds per week. There have been a number of cases where patients have lost weight and a much faster rate. During the recovery period, patients follow a diet with the appropriate nutrition and portions. They will learn how to adopt a healthy diet and exercise program that they can easily maintain for life. To be a candidate for the procedure, patients will normally have to meet established criteria. Lap-band surgery is a minimally invasive procedure with minimal side effects. Of all of the weight loss surgeries, it is considered the safest procedure.

In recent years, obesity rates have been rising at alarming rates. The lap-band system has helped over 650,000 patients across the globe lose weight and keep it off. The result has been an improvement in physical and emotional health. When considering weight loss surgery, speak with your physician or a weight loss surgeon about the benefits of lap-band surgery.

April 25, 2011 | Posted in Lap Band System | Comment >>

Check out our CIBO Clinic Promo Video

We’re very happy to release our latest clinic promo video. Please feel free to share with your family and friends!

(Tom Saridis: CEO & Founder of CIBO Clinic)

I own a clinic – a CIBO clinic. I battled obesity my whole life. This clinic was modeled after what my life was like and how there was no dignity provided to obese people in society. It’s the last prejudice that’s allowed.
(Current CIBO Lap band patients)

My name is Nisrine. I am 39 years old.

My name is Jody, I am 41 years old.

My name is Linda. I am 42 years old.

My name is Michelle. I am 28.

My name is Mike. I am 44 years old.

My name is Kori. I am 22 years old.

Kori: Everybody made fun of me but it’s behind me now. You have to look forward and be positive. A lot of people in this day and age tend to give up: “I’m overweight and there’s nothing I can do about it.” Well there is. This is it. This is the only thing that’s gonna make you become the person you want to be. This is the only place that’s gonna make it happen.

Mike: There was a time for me in my life to make a change. I came in here to the initial consultation. Took all the information home with me and made the decision to move forward as they say. I haven’t regretted it one iota. The last time I got on the scale, I was down roughly 106, 107 lbs. It feels great

Linda: I’ve never been successfully at keeping weight off. I was pretty impressed. Impressed enough to give them a call then I thought, “Oh, what the heck? It’s just a drive to Toronto. Why don’t I go and see what’s going on.” Once I got here, once I met some of the staff, some of the healthcare professionals here, no question. I was in the right spot. It all happened very fast after that. The energy level is unbelievable. My confidence level is right through the roof now. I tried not to pay attention to how I look. Because I figured I didn’t look and I didn’t see very few pictures of me while I was heavy.

Jody: I had given up all hope that I would ever lose weight again. CIBO clinic was designed and built as an obesity management centre first and foremost. Everything from the way the halls were structured and the chairs were designed. The door widths were planned. Everything was designed so you can come in and feel comfortable. You’re not trying to fit into a world that doesn’t fit you. Everybody that comes in understands what you are going through and they acknowledge what you are going through. Everybody offers a little bit of insight because they’re either going through it or they’ve been through it themselves.

Nisrine: I use to live in a world where 295 lb girls live. It’s a very different world from the world that I live in today. When we’re very large, we tell ourselves that we’re not that bad. We stopped looking mirrors and my favourite things were to seat at home and watch TV. My friends were people who like to seat at home and watch TV and snack. As I lost weight and I felt better about myself, I like shopping for clothes and I like going out.

Kori: You can’t give up on life. You have to be happy with who you are and the only way you will be happy is if you make yourself happy.

Michelle: When I came here, it was frightening. They were just giving me information. They were telling me what they do and telling me how it could fit in my life.

Jody: They just want what’s in your best interest to happen.

Kori: You have to look forward. Be positive because it doesn’t matter about the past, it matters about the future.

Tom: My story might be a little different for the next person but at the end of the day, we have a common goal here. That is to provide people dignity and self-esteem. It makes all the difference in the world.

April 21, 2011 | Posted in Lap-Band Stories | Comment >>

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