Common Failures of Lap Band

Lap Band surgery has been hailed as being one of the easiest ways for a person to lose weight, but truth be told there are definitely some problems with the procedure. While these problems are not exactly endemic or typical of lap band surgeries, they are problems that can cause intense problems for the people that have undergone the surgery and for that reason are failures that people should know about before they actually go ahead and have the surgery done. The two most common failure of lap band would have to be migration errors and erosion errors.

The migration error is an error that takes place when the band that is being used actually ends up moving from one part of the stomach to another. The whole point of the lap band surgery is that when the band is inserted into the body, it can then be used to constrict the stomach and in doing so it can then be used by the person with the band to regulate the amount of food that they take in. However, the band is operating in an area of the body that does not have a large amount of friction and for that reason the natural movements of the human body over time can cause the band to move from one part of the stomach to another or even get dislodged from the stomach entirely in severe cases. This not only completely cancels the effectiveness of the band, but it also means that another operation needs to be scheduled in order for the doctor to go in and replace the band or maybe even remove it entirely if that is what the patient now wants.

The erosion error is an error that has similar results, although for a different reason. Rather than moving out of position or falling off where it is supposed to be, a band that experiences an erosion error actually sees part of the material within the band disappear entirely. This happens because of the friction forces such as they are between the stomach and other parts of the body and the band. When the person moves, the band rubs against these different parts. Over the course of time, the creation of that type of force can create holes in the layering of the band, causing parts of the band to erode away. If the error is particularly bad, these parts can then be absorbed by the body and potentially create some feelings of illness as a result. The erosion error is usually more serious than the migration error because of this possibility.

These are the two main common failures of lap band and of course they are not mutually exclusive events. If a person is particularly unlucky they can experience both errors and be in a very bad state. This is why it is important to know about these errors before you actually agree to have lap band surgery done.

April 22 2009 | Cosmetic Surgery | No Comments »

Mini Liposuction – Your Ticket To Your Dream Body

Are you an otherwise skinny person with a few pockets of fat that you'd like to get rid of before hitting the beaches this summer? Or are you a person who has dieted and exercised your way to losing alot of weight and are just a few pounds and inches short of your ideal figure? Then liposuction may be the ticket to getting the body that exists in your mind's eye. Liposuction has been around for decades, but recent advances in techniques have enabled surgeons to go after areas that were previously deemed too difficult to target. These areas are typically worked on using a type of liposuction called mini liposuction.

What Is Liposuction?

Cosmetic surgery encompasses many different procedures in its pantheon. The best known procedure that has become synonymous to cosmetic surgery is liposuction. Liposuction is performed by a surgeon who uses a cannula (basically a long steel tube) to insert under the skin and then vacuum out fat deposits in the target areas. Patients with alot of fat to remove will undergo traditional liposuction. Those who only have minimal fat to remove are more likely to see the mini liposuction performed on them.

Mini liposuction is performed almost exactly like its traditinal cousin with a few small differences. Mini liposuction is quicker and is used on smaller areas and with smaller cannulas. It is used on those patients who either have a small area in which to remove fat or have tough areas that have fat accumulated. The biggest difference between traditional and mini liposuction is actually an advantage for mini liposuction. Traditional liposuction usually requires general anesthesia whereas mini liposuction only requires local anesthesia.

Are You Eligible For Mini Liposuction?

Minors generally do not have liposuction performed on them. As such, you will typically have to be eighteen years or older to have it done. You must be in good physical condition and have no medical conditions that would prevent a successful surgery. Smokers will also get a good chance to kick the habit because they will be prevented from smoking at least two weeks before the surgery. This is not done to help them quit smoking, rather it is done to help them recovery post-surgery. This is because smoking restricts blood vessels and bloode will be needed to help the affected areas heal after surgery.

What Areas Of The Body Are Targeted With Mini Liposuction?

Mini liposuction is performed on any part of the body. It is usually performed where the amount of fat the be removed is relatively small or in areas where the bone is close to the surface of the skin. These areas are typically not conducive to using a standard sized cannula. The cosmetic surgeon can help you identify your trouble areas and recommend traditional or mini liposuction.

Discuss The Procedure With Your Surgeon Ahead Of Time

A meeting with your surgeon before the surgery is always wise. This meeting is to establish your expectations and the surgeon's assessment of your body's ability to undergo invasive surgery. Medical issues that may cause complications during surgery must be disclosed so that nothing goes wrong during the surgery. You will go over your touble areas with the surgeon. Ask questions of the surgeon and be open to suggestions from them as well.

Mini liposuction and its traditiona cousin, liposuction, can help you get the body you've always wanted. If you do your research and work with your surgeon to establish a gameplan and expectations for a successful surgery, you will be happy with the outcome.

April 16 2009 | Liposuction | No Comments »