Gastric Bypass and band Surgery

The last 30 years have presented the weight loss market a variety ofdifferent scientific procedures for preventing obesity – gastric bypass and band surgery  included. However despite the the surgical directive in 2006 which enforced the requirements that all Centers to have qualified cosmetic surgeons and tools, these methods of weight loss surgeries are still prone to promoting health risks.

Gastric Bypass

Even considering recent improvements of the Gastric Bypass surgery where complication rates have dropped by 2.2% from 12.2% of patients to 10%, and mortality rates have reduced from 0.28% to 0.20% (a 0.08% drop) – these enhancements are minimal when you add to the equation the thousands of obese individuals who willing undergo these procedures of Gastric Bypass.

However, hope could be around the corner for obese patients if the ReShape Medical’s dual action balloon system meets the approval of the FDA.

Designed to help obese patients who are either side of the required guidelines for gastric bypass and laparoscopic gastric band placements cosmetic procedures, or who are under 18; the double-balloon device could easily cater for this overlooked group of individuals.  The gastric bypass surgery can be life threatening to the obese patient.

How does Gastric Bypass work?

Currently, the dual balloon system is inserted down a slimmer’s throat using thin tubing before being pumped with saline. As these two oval balloons are filled, slimmer’s will begin to feel full and decrease their appetite and lose weight.

More excitingly, once dietersachievetheir weight loss goal, this double balloon system can easily by deflated and removed from the stomach without being cosmetically removed which is an improvement over the gastric bypass surgery.

At the moment, this device is planned to perform its first medical studyat the beginning of March where 30 volunteers across 3 centers will be implanted with this balloon mechanism. Should it prove safe and effective, this research will be expanded to three hundred and fifty patients across ten surgeries and eventually will be shown to the Food and Drug Administration for approval.

Is it dangerous?

It is unignorable that this device could essentially help hundreds of thousands of dieters who are either too young for gastric bypass or suffer from diabetes, heart disease and severe joint problems to lose those excess lbs, however this dual action balloon has got far to travelbefore it is approved.

26 years ago a similar single balloon mechanism was created by Garren-Edwards . However, with no backup membrane to protect it, this device was prone to rupturing and venturing into the small intestine where it caused serious blockages. As a result this product was quickly removed the market.

Alternative options include weight loss products such as capsiplex . Capsiplex has been proven to help suppress appetite and burn up to 278 extra calories every day. No surgery necessary!  The gastric bypass surgery is the number 1 surgical procedure for the obese patient.