Concerned about whether you're eligible for Lap Band surgery? Gastric Banding was previously recommended to those with a BMI of 35 and above with a weight related complication. Thanks to recent research and advances here in Australia and in the US, we are pleased to see the procedure has become widely accepted as an option to support those with a BMI of 30 or above with a weight-related health complication. Click on the heading above to read more about these changes to the eligibility criteria.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics over half of Australian’s are overweight and obese and this number continues to rise. Obesity is calculated by the use of the Body Mass Index (BMI) which is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to adult men and women. Guidelines suggest that a person with a BMI index of 30 or greater is clinically obese. There are several obesity-related health complications including Type 2 Diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke and some cancers. Many of these life threatening conditions caused by obesity can be avoided by weight loss.

Weight loss can be achieved through a variety of conservative weight loss therapies such as diet, exercise and pharmacotherapy. However, it is quite difficult for those already suffering from obesity to achieve weight loss through a healthy and active lifestyle. Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of the Lap-Band weight loss system for adults who have exhausted common weight loss therapies and maintain a BMI of 30 plus and one overweight health related issue.

The Lap-Band is an adjustable band designed by the company, Allergan, as an alternative to gastric bypass surgery. Lap-Band surgery is preferred over gastric bypass surgery as it is less invasive which allows for reduced pain and shorter hospital stays with patients being able to get back to normal activities faster.  This Lap-Band device limits the amount of food that enters and passes through the stomach and thus causes the patient to gradually lose weight and keep it off. It achieves this goal by the band being placed over the top of the stomach which is then filled with saline to tighten it and thus causing the stomach to ‘shrink’ so you feel fuller faster.  This procedure, unlike gastric bypass surgery, is reversible and can be adjusted to meet the patient’s needs. It also does not involve any stapling, resection or shortening of the stomach or intestines and so it does not impact on normal functioning of the digestive system. According to Allergan the band has been used in around 600,000 people since 2001 in the United States.

Lap-Band Surgery is Australia’s most frequently performed weight loss procedure with results showing over 80% of patients to lose between 50 and 60% of their excess body weight.  The impact of weight loss on obese patients has a large affect on our country’s health system as the treatment of comorbid conditions such as Type 2 Diabetes and heart disease are lessened.  It also helps people lead a much healthier lifestyle with a greater quality of life and a longer life.

Obesity is a costly disease with much of the patients money being put into medication, medical visits, carer situations and often loss of income due to the disease. This obesity epidemic is also an economic burden to Australia’s health system with many of our healthcare resources being directed to the treatment of obesity patients comorbid conditions. Diabetes Australia conducted a study titled “The Growing  Cost of Obesity in 2008: three years on” calculated that the financial cost of obesity in Australia in 2008 was estimated at $8.283 billion. The same study predicted that the total number of Australians diagnosed with obesity in the year 2025 will be 4.6 million which is 18.3% of the population. If the obesity epidemic does not slow down this will mean a much larger expenditure in treatment of the disease for the Australian health system and Australians.  

Therefore it is distressing that Lap-Band surgery which is such a life saving and changing procedure comes at such a financial cost to patients. One Australian doctor, Dr Laurent Layani has acknowledged the need to make Lap-Band Surgery more easily available to Australians by offering the procedure at half the normal out of pocket cost for patients with Private Health cover. Those without cover can even shave off a lot of the cost of surgery. His goal is  “.. to see more people be given the opportunity to make a difference to their lives, especially their health and longevity.”

With over 11,000 gastric banding procedures being carried out in Australia each year, and the wider acceptance of a lower BMI for eligibility, WeightLoss Solutions Australia is pleased to be able to offer Lap Band surgery at half the normal out of pocket costs* for patients with Private Basic Hospital Health cover. If you do not have private health insurance you are still eligible to save $2500 off the cost of the surgery. We have endevoured to make this surgery more widely available to assist as many people as possible with their weight problems. Read more about Dr Layani's Lap Band Community Offer. WeightLoss Solultions Australia also offers a number of finance options to assist you with monthly payments.