Dr. Carson Liu

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Dr. Carson Liu, MD, FACS, Plastic Surgeon

Bariatric Surgery

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Los Angeles

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Lap-Band surgery is the least traumatic of all bariatric surgeries. The procedure requires no cutting or stapling. It has a quicker recovery time than gastric bypass surgery, and is minimally invasive because it is done via a laparoscopic method.

The Lap-Band is placed around the upper stomach, restricting the size of the stomach pouch. This limits the amount of food a patient can eat. Patients get fuller much faster, and therefore eat less food, which results in weight loss. The Lap-Band is adjustable, which means that patients can have the band tightened or loosened according to their individual needs.

Lap-Band surgery requirements are slightly less restrictive than requirements for gastric bypass surgery. Patients with a slightly smaller BMI may be candidates.

Surgeons consider the following factors when deciding if Lap-Band surgery is right for an individual patient:

• Patients should be 60 to 90 pounds overweight, or more.
• Patients should have a Body Mass Index of 30 to 60.
• Additional conditions such as asthma, heart disease, arthritis, sleep apnea or gastro-esophageal reflux.
• Patients should have struggled with weight loss for a number of years.
• Patients should have had no results with weight loss using diet and exercise.
• Patients should be willing to stick to lifestyle changes after surgery.

Please contact Los Angeles weight loss surgeon Dr. Carson Liu for more information.

Rouen-en-Y gastric bypass involves creating a smaller stomach pouch using staples, then creating a Y-shaped section of the small intestine that allows food to bypass it. This technique creates malabsorption, which means that the patient absorbs fewer calories and nutrients through the stomach and small intestine. The procedure also allows a limited amount of food into the stomach pouch. Patients who have this surgery can lose up to two-thirds their original body weight.

Not everyone is a good candidate for gastric bypass surgery. Even some patients who consider themselves overweight or who are obese are not good candidates. Surgeons take into account a number of factors when deciding if gastric bypass is right for a particular patient.

Those factors include:

• Age between 18 and 65
• A Body Mass Index (BMI) above 40
• A range of additional conditions, including diabetes, sleep apnea, depression, hypertension, high cholesterol, infertility, heart disease, asthma, stroke, metabolic syndrome. and several types of cancer
• Have been unable to lose weight using diet and exercise
• A family history of obesity-related health problems

For more information and to find out if you are a possible candidate for gastric bypass surgery, please contact Los Angeles surgeon Dr. Carson Liu for more information.

• The adolescent is at least age 13 or older
• He or she has experienced an inability to lose weight after six months of physician supervised diet and exercise plans
• Has a BMI (body mass index) over 40
• Has obesity-related health problems, like type 2 Diabetes
• Has the ability to understand and implement the permanent lifestyle changes associated with the surgery

In the past, weight loss surgery has required invasive procedures to reduce the size of the stomach and often reconstruct the connections between the stomach and the intestine. While this kind of surgery, called gastric bypass surgery, is still widely used, other options are also available that are less invasive and also highly effective.

Gastric Bypass

The traditional gastric bypass has been refined over the years, and while still a complicated procedure, it can now be performed with laparoscopic methods rather than with open surgery. This makes the procedure much easier on the patient, reducing recovery time and the risk of side effects.

LAP-BAND® System

LAP-BAND weight loss surgery, or laparoscopic gastric banding surgery, is relatively new and growing rapidly in popularity. Much less invasive than gastric bypass surgery, LAP-BAND System procedures require a much shorter hospital stay. In addition, the LAP-BAND System is adjustable. The stomach is constricted with a silicone band, creating a small pouch and a narrow entrance into the rest of the stomach. The band can be adjusted by adding or removing saline, making the stomach pouch smaller or larger. The LAP-BAND System method is also easily reversible, unlike major gastric bypass surgery.

Who is a Good Candidate for Weight Loss Surgery?

In general, you might be a good candidate for weight loss surgery if your BMI is higher than 40, or if you are 100 pounds heavier than your ideal weight. Complications due to obesity might lead to complications with surgery, as well, so it's important to consult with a qualified bariatric surgeon like Dr. Liu to be sure weight loss surgery is a good option for you.

To find out more about weight loss surgery options in the Los Angeles, California area, please contact experienced bariatric surgeon Dr. Carson Liu to schedule a consultation.

The decision to undergo weight loss surgery, or bariatric surgery, is highly personal and should be made with the help of a surgeon with a great deal of experience in the field. Dr. Carson Liu has performed over 2,600 bariatric procedures, and can help you decide if surgical weight control is a good option for you.

The people most likely to be good candidates for surgical weight control are people who:

• Are 100 or more pounds overweight
• Have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or higher
• Have a BMI of at least 35 and an obesity related health condition
• Have tried multiple times to lose weight with diet and exercise without success

The success of surgical weight control also depends on your willingness to make changes to your lifestyle, including major changes to your eating habits and following a regular exercise plan. Without these elements, even surgical weight loss will not be permanent.

If you would like to find out if you might be a candidate for surgical weight control, Dr. Liu’s BMI calculator can help you determine if you fall within the ranges above. Even more helpful in your final decision is a detailed consultation with Dr. Liu. He can discuss your history, past attempts at weight loss, and your overall health, and help you decide whether surgical weight control is a good option for you.

To schedule a consultation with Dr. Carson Liu, please contact his Los Angeles, California area bariatric surgery offices. We’ll be happy to help answer all your questions about surgical weight control and what it can do to help you regain your life and your health.