Vertical Banded Gastroplasty (VBG) Weight Loss Surgery

Vertical Banded Gastroplasty (VBG) Checklist

If you’re beginning the process of taking on your obesity and looking to solve your ongoing weight problems, you’re making a wise decision. As you explore different surgical options, you’ll need to obtain information that will allow you to make an educated decision. Below is a checklist for vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG), and if you’d like more specific information, you should contact a surgeon for a consultation.

Background of Vertical Banded Gastroplasty
The background surrounding VBG dates back many years, as the surgery is also known as gastric stapling, which is one of the more traditional procedures used to fight obesity problems.

Best Candidates for Banded Gastroplasy Surgery
The best candidates for VBG are those who are generally at least 100 pounds overweight or more. Most patients also have a BMI of over 40, and many patients have attempted other weight loss methods without success.

Uncertainty and Risk of Weight Loss Surgery
There is uncertainty and risk involved with any surgery, and the uncertainty and risk involved with any obesity-related surgery is standard. General risks include bleeding and infections from incisions and dumping syndrome, which is a condition whereby food is not properly digested, causing ongoing nausea and dizziness.

Planning for Weight Loss Surgery
Planning for surgery is a process that involves you, your doctor and your support network, as every element will be needed to ensure a healthy recovery. Examples of planning for surgery include making sure that you’ve budgeted the proper amount of time for recovery and understanding the process that’s involved with this procedure.

Preparing for Gastroplasty Surgery
Preparing for surgery involves several specific steps. Initially, preparing for surgery involves a full medical examination to ensure that you’re a proper candidate. Beyond the medical considerations, you’ll also need a psychological evaluation to make sure that there are no conditions present that could hinder your recovery.

Where Weight Loss Surgery is Performed
The question of where surgery is performed is almost always answered the same way. Given the advanced technical nature and relative invasiveness of VBG, your surgery will be performed at the hospital.

How Vertical Banded Gastroplasty Surgery is Performed
The question of how surgery is performed can involve some slight variations, but generally speaking, VBG is completed by inserting a soft band and staples in order to form a stomach pouch. This pouch will help bypass the rest of the stomach and will make patients feel full even though they’re eating less.

Anesthesia associated with Weight Loss Surgery
Anesthesia is a necessary part of any surgery, and the VBG procedure always includes general anesthesia. General anesthesia means that the patient will not be awake during the surgery, and this is advisable to ensure the patient’s comfort and recovery.

Post-Op Considerations for VGG Surgery
The post-op considerations involved with VBG are extensive and necessary to maximize a healthy recovery. These post-op considerations involve an adjusted diet and an exercise plan that will help the patient adapt to what is essentially a smaller stomach.

Vertical Banded Gastroplasty (VBG) Candidacy

One of the first things you need to consider when it comes to fighting your obesity is which procedure is the best fit for your needs. When it comes to VBG, three common questions that are asked by prospective patients are, “How can I tell if I’m a good candidate for a vertical banded gastroplasty?”, “How will I be evaluated for vertical banded gastroplasty?” and “Will my insurance help offset the costs of vertical banded gastroplasty surgery?” Each of these questions is answered below, but for specific information as it relates to your condition, contact a cosmetic surgeon for a consultation.

How can I tell if I’m a good candidate for a vertical banded gastroplasty?

Although different situations apply to each potential patient, statistics show that the best candidates for VBG are those patients who are at least 100 pounds overweight and have a BMI of at least 40. Most VBG patients have also been medically obese for at least five years and have attempted to lose weight with at least one other strategy without positive results.

How will I be evaluated for vertical banded gastroplasty?

Given the serious nature of this procedure, your pre-operation evaluation will be very detailed. The first step will involve a full medical examination and a complete analysis of your medical history. It’s also likely that you’ll be examined for any psychological factors that could be present in order to make sure that any such psychological problems will not hinder your overall progress.

Will my insurance help offset the costs of vertical banded gastroplasty surgery?

Although there is no consistent, concrete answer to this question, there are factors to consider and steps you should take to make sure that there is no confusion in regards to coverage. Insurance companies will cover procedures that are considered medically necessary, but not those that are considered elective or cosmetic in nature. Therefore, your best course of action would be to consult with your doctor to get his or her recommendation as to the level of necessity of this procedure. Subsequent to this consultation, you’ll need to communicate with your insurance company for a final answer regarding coverage. Make sure you document any and all communication with your carrier to alleviate the potential for confusion or controversy after the surgery has been completed.

Overall, three of the most common questions related to VBG candidacy are, “How can I tell if I’m a good candidate for a vertical banded gastroplasty?”, “How will I be evaluated for vertical banded gastroplasty?” and “Will my insurance help offset the costs of vertical banded gastroplasty surgery?” Although answers to each of these questions are provided above, your best bet is to contact a cosmetic surgeon in order to get all the facts and statistics necessary as they relate to your individual situation.

Vertical Banded Gastroplasty (VBG) Specifics

As you continue your research regarding your fight against obesity, you’ll need to gain an understanding of the particulars of different procedures so that your consultation with a cosmetic surgeon will be productive. Overall, three common questions relating to the specifics of the VBG procedure are, “Where are incisions placed for a vertical banded gastroplasty procedure?”, “What are some variations to the common vertical banded gastroplasty method?” and “What are some of the risks associated with vertical banded gastroplasty?” General answers to these questions are provided below.

Where are incisions placed for a vertical banded gastroplasty procedure?

In a traditional open incision VBG, one large incision is cut into the abdominal region of the patient. The benefits of having one large incision is that it provides direct and easy access to the patient’s stomach and intestines and allows the doctor to work more closely with the organs at issue.

What are some variations to the common vertical banded gastroplasty method?

Although there is much debate in the medical community regarding whether or not this method is considered a variation, the laparoscopic method is widely-used around the world. This method involves smaller incisions around the abdomen as opposed to one large incision, and smaller instruments are guided by a camera in order to perform the stapling and banding of the stomach. The theory behind the laparoscopic method is that a smaller incision reduces the risk of complications that include bleeding and infections traditionally associated with large incisions.

What are some of the risks associated with vertical banded gastroplasty?

The risks associated with VBG are largely similar to risks associated with any obesity-related surgery. Although these complications are statistically rare, they can include infections from the incision, an erosion of the staples in the stomach that causes pain and stomach bleeding, and post-operation complications that can arise from the patient eating too much or too quickly. These patient-related complications include the stretching and stressing of the pouch that’s inserted as a result of being filled with too much food. If you do not chew enough while you eat after surgery, you may also suffer from acid reflux disease.

Overall, three extremely common questions regarding VBG include, “Where are incisions placed for a vertical banded gastroplasty procedure?”, “What are some variations to the common vertical banded gastroplasty method?” and “What are some of the risks associated with vertical banded gastroplasty?” For a completely individualized analysis of these factors as they relate to your medical status, you need to contact a cosmetic surgeon for a consultation, as he or she will be able to provide you with all the information you’ll need to make an informed decision.

Vertical Banded Gastroplasty (VBG) Preparation and Recovery

Two of the most important aspects of deciding whether or not VBG is the best procedure for your fight against obesity are the preparation and recovery time and strategy required to ensure success in the long-term. Examples of questions regarding these aspects include, “What steps should I take to prepare for surgery?”, “What can I expect the day of surgery to be like?”, “How will I look and feel immediately following the surgery?”, “When can I pursue my normal activities again?” and “How long can I expect results to last?” General answers to each of these questions is provided below.

What steps should I take to prepare for surgery?
Your preparatory steps will be defined and agreed-upon by you and your doctor. These steps include making sure that you have the proper amount of time available for a stable recovery and that you have a strong support network of people in place to help you to get back on your feet and to maintain the post-operation strategy that is critical to the success of the procedure.

What can I expect the day of surgery to be like?
The day of your surgery will be exciting, but like all other patients, you’ll experience emotions that range from fear to anxiety to anticipation. You will not remember the surgery itself, as you’ll be placed under general anesthesia, and overall, this significant day in your life will pass very quickly.

How will I look and feel immediately following the surgery?
The first feeling you will consider after the surgery is grogginess, as you’ll be shaking off the effects of the anesthesia. Beyond that initial recovery, you’ll also feel pain and soreness, which is normal, although this pain will be aided with medication. You will not instantly look like you’ve lost a significant amount of weight, but that will happen for you quickly.

When can I pursue my normal activities again?
You should be prepared to stay in the hospital for at least a few days after the surgery is complete. This is merely precautionary, as complications are most likely to arise in the days following the procedure. In regards to your normal activities, you should expect to get back into your routine, including necessary adjustments, within a few weeks.

How long can I expect results to last?

The answer to this question is almost entirely up to you. VBG surgery is only the beginning of your fight against obesity. You’ll need to learn how to properly manage your diet and to integrate a routine of responsible exercise into your daily life. Patients who have been diligent in their after-care processes have almost always enjoyed a lifetime of benefits and positive results. Failing to follow the after-care plan, however, can result not only in disappointment but also in medical complications.

Overall, several common questions regarding VBG are, “What steps should I take to prepare for surgery?”, “What can I expect the day of surgery to be like?”, “How will I look and feel immediately following the surgery?”, “When can I pursue my normal activities again?” and “How long can I expect results to last?” For specific answers to these questions as they relate to your medical situation, contact a cosmetic surgeon today for a consultation.