ESA Central Jersey Bariatrics, LLC

Is the band safe during pregnancy?     Yes, the band is perfectly safe. It can be "temporarily" reversed by simply emptying the saline out.  We can usually control how much weight you gain during a pregnancy by gradually unfilling it.

Is the LAP-BAND reversible?     Yes, the band is reversible, but it should NOT be thought of as a temporary fix!  We want patients to make a commitment to work with their band forever. 

How much weight should I expect to lose?     We set a target for band patients to lose 75% of their excess body weight and we have had many patients achieve this goal.  Most studies show about 60% excess body weight in the long-run.

How fast does the weight come off?     Weight loss is much slower with the band than with gastric bypass.  Patients who are following the program usually lose 1-2 lbs per week.

How many band adjustments will I need?     Most patients need 6-8 adjustments in the first year after surgery. 

Will I continue to get adjustments forever?     The band is permeable like a helium balloon, so it will harmlessly leak a very small amount of saline at a very low rate.  Most patients will need a yearly adjustment for the rest of their life.

Why can't I have my band taken out when I lose all my weight?     Theoretically you could, however patients who have their bands taken out invariably gain weight, as they lose the appetite and portion control that comes with being banded.

Will I have to exercise?     Yes!  The band is a very powerful tool to help you lose weight, but it is not magic.  Exercise is mandatory if you want to be successful.

Can I get a low profile port?     Yes.  We always try to use low profile ports unless we think it will be too difficult to access in higher BMI patients.

Will I still have excess skin if I lose weight more slowly?     Losing weight in a slower, more controlled manner does not always eliminate problems with excess skin.  There are many factors involved here:  how much weight you lose, how old you are, etc.  Whether you end up having excess skin or not, this is a long-term problem that can be managed down the road.  It is much healthier to have some excess skin than to be overweight and suffer from diabetes and high blood pressure!

I am from out of town and want to have surgery there, how does that work?     We operate on lots of out-of-towners, we usually try to do everything we can over the phone.  Whenever we can we try to arrange it so that you only have to make one trip to town for your surgery. 

Another surgeon placed my band and now it has slipped, what do I do?    We have become a referral center for patients with band related complications.  Dr. Washington and his team have cared for patients with complications from all over the country.  Although band-related complications are uncommon, if you have one you want the surgeon and team with the most experience to fix it!

Another surgeon placed my band and I have had poor weight loss, what do I do?    The failure rate for the LAP-BAND in some practices who do not do many bands is much higher than ours, therefore many patients are out there looking for a solution.  For patients who have failed to lose weight with the LAP-BAND, we recommend removal of the band and conversion to a vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG). 

Gastric Bypass FAQ’s

What are the advantages of the Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy?
It does not require the implantation of a foreign body as used in the lap-band procedure.  Safer procedure for the severely obese patient, shorter time under anesthesia, offers the benefit of initially decreasing the body weight in the severely obese patient to prepare patient for a staged procedure or other surgery at a later time.

How long is the operation?
Generally 2 hours, longer than the Lap-band, but shorter than the Gastric bypass.

How long will I be in the hospital?
Typically the hospital stay is 2 days.

Is this a malabsorptive or a restrictive procedure?
The sleeve gastrectomy is a restrictive procedure. A segment of the stomach is removed decreasing the size of the stomach but also decreases the secretion of the hormone ghrelin which is responsible for the feeling of fullness.

How much weight should I expect to lose?
The expected weight loss is about 60% of excess body weight, slightly less than the gastric bypass but slightly more than the Lap-band procedure.

How long has this procedure been done?
It is first described in 1988. Recently started in the practice in 2006. No long term data, low complication rate.

StomaphyX Procedure FAQ's

What is the StomaphyX procedure?     

The StomaphyX device is an endoluminal fastener and delivery system that consists of an ergonomic, flexible fastener delivery device and sterile polypropylene fastener implants. This is an endoscopic procedure that involves placing an endoscope type device through the mouth into the stomach pouch. The connection between the stomach pouch and small intestines is then stapled resulting in slower  emptying of the stomach and earlier satiety and more weight loss. The procedure also decreases the stomach pouch, similar to the size of the original gastric bypass procedure.

Who is eligible for this procedure?

Patients who have had gastric bypass surgery and are either regaining their weight, or never achieved adequate weight loss.

How long is the procedure? 

The procedure is about 60 minutes and is performed on an outpatient basis.

How long has this procedure been done and what are the risks?

The device is fairly new. EndoGastric Solutions, the manufacturer received FDA approval in April of 2007. The procedure is low risk, because there is no risk of leakage due to the fact no internal surgical incisions are made. The procedure should be done by a surgeon certified in using the device.