LAP-BAND^® System Candidates

• You are at least 18 years old.
• Your BMI is 40 or you weigh at least twice your ideal weight or at least 100 pounds more than your ideal weight.
• You have been overweight for more than 5 years.
• Your serious weight-loss attempts have had only short-term success.
• You are not suffering from any other disease that may have caused your obesity.
• You are prepared to make substantial changes in your eating habits and lifestyle.
• You are willing to continue being monitored by the specialist treating you.
• You do not drink alcohol in excess.

If you do not meet the BMI or weight criteria, you still may be considered for surgery if your BMI is over 35 and you are suffering from serious health problems caused by your weight. Your surgeon may have additional criteria.

Candidates For the LAP-BAND System Procedure

LAP-BAND System surgery is recommended for those persons who are 90 pounds or more overweight and have or are likely to have medical complications that will be helped, and in many instances, cured by substantial weight loss. While weight loss surgery is not for everyone, there are a large number of patients for whom losing a lot of weight is imperative, including those suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure, heart trouble, shortness of breath, arthritis and orthopedic (bone) problems with their legs, hips or back. Weight loss surgery actually fails in those persons who drink large quantities of regular soft drinks, consume sweets, ice cream, chips and fatty fried foods. If you are one of these people and feel you cannot switch to diet drinks and cut out sweets and fried foods then gastric bypass surgery is not for you.

Determining Morbid Obesity

Physicians and healthcare professionals commonly use the 'Body Mass Index' (BMI) as a way of helping to determine obesity. BMI is a number calculated by dividing a person's weight in kilograms by his or her height in square meters. Although a patient's BMI cannot be used to determine actual percentage of body fat or overall health condition, it is a means of categorizing weight in terms of nationally recognized standards. These standards — derived from years of research and data — are based on the probability of whether or not a person will be healthy or unhealthy as they age.

A Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 40 is by definition morbid obesity. Lesser BMI may be morbid if associated by serious co-morbidities.

Body Mass Index standards are:

• BMI 18.5 to 24.9 Healthy
• BMI 25 to 29.9 Overweight
• BMI 30 to 39.9 Obese
• BMI 40 to 49.9 Morbidly Obese
• BMI 50 or higher Super Obese

Answering the question "Am I Morbidly Obese?" may give you the courage you need to take the first step towards weight loss surgery. Below, we've included a BMI Calculator and an Ideal Body Weight Chart you can use to determine if you are morbidly obese. (However, BMI is only one of many factors we consider when determining whether or not a patient is a good candidate for weight loss surgery.) You may be a good candidate for surgery if:

• You are 100 pounds or more over your healthy (ideal) body weight
• You have a BMI of 40 or more
• You have a BMI of 35 or more and have serious health problems, such as diabetes or heart disease, that are caused by your excess weight

LAP-BAND System Contraindications

The LAP-BAND System is not right for you if:

• You have an inflammatory disease or condition of the gastrointestinal tract, such as ulcers, severe esophagitis, or Crohn’s disease.
• You have severe heart or lung disease that makes you a poor candidate for surgery.
• You have some other disease that makes you a poor candidate for surgery.
• You have a problem that could cause bleeding in the esophagus or stomach. That might include esophageal or gastric varices (a dilated vein). It might also be something such as congenital or acquired intestinal telangiectasia (dilation of a small blood vessel).
• You have portal hypertension.
• Your esophagus, stomach, or intestine is not normal (congenital or acquired). For instance you might have a narrowed opening.
• You have or have experienced an intra­operative gastric injury, such as a gastric perforation at or near the location of the intended band placement.
• You have cirrhosis.
• You have chronic pancreatitis.
• You are pregnant. (If you become pregnant after the LAP-BAND System has been placed, the band may need to be deflated. The same is true if you need more nutrition for any other reason, such as becoming seriously ill. In rare cases, removal may be needed.)
• You are addicted to alcohol or drugs.
• You are under 18 years of age.
  13. You have an infection anywhere in your body or one that could contaminate the surgical area.
• You are on chronic, long-term steroid treatment.
• You cannot or do not want to follow the dietary rules that come with this procedure.
• You might be allergic to materials in the device.
• You cannot tolerate pain from an implanted device.
• You or someone in your family has an autoimmune connective tissue disease. That might be a disease such as systemic lupus erythematosus or scleroderma. The same is true if you have symptoms of one of these diseases.
   

Your surgeon will not do the operation unless he or she knows you understand the problems your excess weight is causing. Also, your surgeon will make sure you know that you have responsibilities, such as adopting new eating patterns and a new lifestyle. If you are ready to take an active part in reducing your weight, your surgeon will consider the treatment. You should be well-informed about the advantages, disadvantages, and risks involved. Be sure to investigate whether this treatment is right for you.