Looking for surgical options for weight loss? A procedure known as Vertical banded gastroplasty, or VBG for short is one such option.

In this procedure, the stomach is partitioned into two with staples and fitted with a plastic band to limit the amount of food that the stomach can hold.  Food then begins to empty from the upper pouch to the lower pouch through the small opening which was created by the banding.  This popular surgical procedure is part of a relatively new surgical subspecialty called Bariatric surgery.

Vertical banded gastroplasty may also be performed with the laparoscopic approach using precision small instruments and a camera, however this requires the selection of a competent surgeon with proper training in the laparoscopic approach. Of course it should be noted that going the laparoscopic way means that it does not require an incision and thus no scars. However, currently in the US, most of the VBG’s are still being carried out with open surgery.

The risks and complications are similar with Lap-Band surgery. It should also be noted that there may be long term risks involved. Studies have shown that patients who have had VBG are more likely to regain the lost weight as compared to those who have had gastric bypass surgery.  This happens as people get adjusted to the smaller stomach and tend to eat food with a high calorie content.  The statistics from a follow up study are not encouraging showing that up to 80% of patients were unable to keep off the weight 10 years down the road.

I suppose the temptation can be irresistible. Losing weight with a diet and physical exercise plan can be slow and frustrating for those who seek results fast, and many people these days are opting for surgery.

So is fat loss surgery the solution for you?

Turning to the surgeon’s knife for a quick fix weight loss solution is an option which 200,000 people in the United States take each year. The numbers have increased as more insurance plans begin to cover the cost of the surgery.

The results can be quick and dramatic thus having an immense psycological impact on the patient. The surgeons who offer such treatment believe that the weight loss by such means outweigh the health risks that come with being overweight.

However there is a downside to it. There is of course the dangers associated with requiring surgery for one. The surgical slits will leave scars and the pain associated with surgery to abdominal muscles remain for a while.

Bariatric or the Toga.

This treatment is called Bariatric surgery and as high as 20 percent of post-op patients seem to require follow up operations. Common complications are hernias and leaks in the digestive track. About a third develop gallstones and many become vitamin deficient if they do not take supplements.

There is also a tendency for develop gastrointestinal problems and the post-op death rate stats are at about 1 in 50.

A more recent procedure seems intresting as it requires no cutting. Called the Toga method, it is a simple non-invasive procedure where the surgeon runs a stapler down your throat and staples up your stomach from the inside. This results in your stomach holding only a small amount of food. Still experimental, a few patients have already tried this in the US, and a lot more in Europe and Mexico. All said, this procedure is showing promising results with over 40 percent in weight loss after 1 year of treatment.

Having mentioned all this, you should realize that such surgery should be your last resort after having attempted a weight loss diet and exercise plan. Seek your doctor’s advise and there is no harm in going for a second opnion before you proceed with Bariatic or the Toga surgery.

A great fat loss diet plan is called Strip That Fat. There is no starvation involved. It involves eating the right food for the maximum weight loss. Many of those who have tried it have seen results in 7 to 14 days. It comes with an uncoditional money back gaurantee, so you might want to try it before you even want to consider surgery. Click on this to view their Official Home Page.