You are probably aware of the recent, ongoing negative publicity surrounding the LAP-BAND® procedure. One group in particular has been the focus of a series of investigative reports by the Los Angeles Times. These stories understandably cause alarm when they hit the news, especially for anyone who may have been thinking about a bariatric procedure.
However, what doesn’t make it into the news as often are stories about the hundreds of thousands of people who successfully undergo bariatric surgery, experience no problems, and go on to lose weight and improve their quality of life.
The gastric-band procedure is generally considered to be one of the safest, most effective treatment options for morbid obesity. Recent studies in the Journal of American Medical Association and the New England Journal of Medicine have confirmed that, when the operations is performed by a skilled surgery, lap-band surgery is safe and effective with fewer than two percent of patients experiencing serious complications1,2,3.
Weight Loss Surgery at Marina Weight Loss
At Marina Weight Loss, we pride ourselves on our impeccable experience and our excellent care. We perform lap-band, gastric bypass, and gastric sleeve procedures, as well as the cutting-edge gastric plication surgery, combinations of procedures, and revisions of past weight-loss operations. We keep up-to-date with the most modern surgical developments, and we always place safety before all other considerations.
We are highly trained specialists with thousands of procedures under our belts, and our safety record and patient satisfaction level are very good. In recognition of our successful pursuit of quality and safety, the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery has named Marina Weight Loss a Bariatric Surgery Center for Excellence. We underwent a rigorous screening process, including examinations of our records and our facilities, to earn this honor.
We would like to invite you to call our office at (800) 491-1977 to discuss any concerns you may have about bariatric surgery. Safety is a huge concern; let’s discuss it openly.
References
1Perioperative Safety in the Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery. The Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery (LABS) Consortium. N Engl J Med 2009; 361:445-454July 30, 2009
2Hospital Complication Rates With Bariatric Surgery in Michigan. Nancy J. O. Birkmeyer, Justin B. Dimick, David Share, Abdelkader Hawasli, Wayne J. English, Jeffrey Genaw, Jonathan F. Finks, Arthur M. Carlin, John D. Birkmeyer , for the Michigan Bariatric Surgery Collaborative. JAMA. 2010;304(4):435-442.. doi:10.1001/jama.2010.1034
3M. S. Parikh, G. A. Fielding and C. J. Ren. U.S. experience with 749 laparoscopic adjustable gastric bands: intermediate outcomes. Surgical Endoscopy. Volume 19, Number 12, 1631-1635, DOI: 10.1007/s00464-005-0302-7
