LAP-BAND® OR REALIZE® BAND? HOW TO DETERMINE WHICH WEIGHT LOSS PROCEDURE IS RIGHT FOR YOU  

New Jersey Bariatric Center Surgeon Lays Out the Facts of Both Procedures Enabling Patients to Make an Informed Choice When Considering Gastric Band Surgery

Summit , NJ – April 19, 2010 - LAP-BAND® or REALIZE® Band? For patients contemplating gastric band surgery, it’s one of the most commonly asked questions. Surgeons at the New Jersey Bariatric Center recommend understanding how each product works and assists in weight loss in order to choose which gastric band product is right for you.

“For potential gastric band patients both the LAP-BAND® and the REALIZE® Band procedure are safe, effective weight loss methods that can lead to a healthier lifestyle,” says Dr. Ajay Goyal, Founder, New Jersey Bariatric Center . “During patient consultations we take the time to explain the ins and outs of both the LAP-BAND® and REALIZE® Band surgery, and then work with each patient to determine which procedure best fits her lifestyle and weight loss goals.”  

LAP-BAND® System

The LAP-BAND® System, manufactured by Allergan, was the first gastric band approved by the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for surgical weight reduction in the United States . Clinical trials began in the U.S. in June 1995 and commercial use of the LAP-BAND® System was approved by the FDA in June 2001.

The LAP-BAND® System has a 360 degree fill capacity, and is available in two sizes – standard which can hold up to 10 ccs of saline, and large, which holds up to 14ccs of saline to accommodate larger patients. There are two ports available, the standard (14.7mm) and the low-profile port (11.9mm), both of which are stitched to the muscle wall in the abdomen. Adjustments to the LAP-BAND® typically occur in the New Jersey Bariatric Center offices with specially designed needles where saline is either added or removed via the port to tighten or loosen the band. Tightening the band restricts food intake, and is the key to jump starting weight loss. On occasion, the band is adjusted, under radiological fluoroscopy in the hospital.


REALIZE® Adjustable Band

Manufactured by Ethicon-Endo Surgery, a division of Johnson & Johnson, the REALIZE® Adjustable Band has 20 years of clinical data confirming its performance. Outside the US it’s known as the Swedish Adjustable Gastric Band and has been used in patients since 1986. In the US , clinical trials began in 2003 and FDA approval was granted for commercial use of the REALIZE® Adjustable Band in September 2007.

The REALIZE® Band also has a 360 degree fill capacity with one band size available capable of sustaining 11 cc’s of sterile saline. One low profile port is available and is also adjusted at the New Jersey Bariatric Center offices. However, in contrast to the LAP-BAND®, the REALIZE® Band port is adhered to the muscle in the abdomen with special clips located on the back of the low-profile port.

The surgeons at the New Jersey Bariatric Center have successfully performed more than 1,000 gastric band surgeries to-date, and were one of the first surgeons to use the REALIZE Ò Band in New Jersey.


Making the Choice

Overall, the LAP-BAND® System and REALIZE® Adjustable Band, have both been proven to be safe, effective surgical procedures that assist in achieving long term weight loss. And, they both offer online support through My LAP-BAND® Journey or REALIZE® My Success programs. In the end, the decision regarding which band is right for you is based on patient preference after understanding the facts on how each one assists in your weight loss journey.


New Jersey Bariatric Center

The New Jersey Bariatric Center , led by Dr. Ajay Goyal, has offices in Union and Hoboken , New Jersey . Dr. Goyal’s approach to patient care has resulted in zero mortality to date and a complication rate that is lower than the national average. These surgical results stand out as some of the best in New Jersey . If you or someone you love is considering bariatric surgery – Gastric Bypass, LAP-BAND® or REALIZE Band ® procedures - please join us for one of our free educational seminars. To register, visit us at www.njbariatriccenter.com.

Ajay Goyal, MD, FACS
Director
New Jersey Bariatric Center
700 Rahway Avenue
Union , NJ 07083
Phone: (908) 481-1270
Fax: (908) 688-8861
info@njbcenter.com
http://www.njbariatriccenter.com
www.facebook.com/njbariatriccenter