Lap Gastric Band Surgery in India: Affordable Option for Weight Loss

Lap band surgery is a small procedure that allows many people suffering from obesity to lose weight slowly or in a sustainable manner. In India, the price of lap band surgery is usually between USD 3,500 and USD 5,500, making it significantly less expensive than in most Western nations; therefore, patients can expect savings of approximately 60â€“70% on their treatment costs by choosing to have lap band surgery done in India.

While patients should keep in mind that price varies based on city, hospital, and physician experience, lap band surgery in India remains one of the most economical forms of bariatric surgery while still providing a very high level of care.

What Is Lap Band Surgery?

Lap band surgery involves placing an adjustable silicone band around the upper part of the stomach. The band is then inflated to separate the stomach into two sections:

A smaller section (the upper pouch) for food intake,
The larger portion (the lower stomach) is for the remaining digestive process.

By reducing the capacity of the upper pouch to accommodate food compared to the previous state before surgery, patients will experience a feeling of being full earlier when consuming meals, which assists in decreasing their caloric intake over time, ultimately leading them to lose weight gradually.

Benefits of Lap Band Surgery to Lose Weight

There are two main ways in which laparoscopic gastric banding promotes weight reduction.

Less Hunger: As the size of your stomach is reduced, you feel full after eating much less. Thus, you eat smaller amounts of food during a meal.
Reduced Capacity for Food Storage: A smaller stomach pouch can hold only a limited quantity of food, which motivates you to control portion sizes and develop healthier eating habits.

There are many advantages to having a Lap-Band procedure in comparison to other forms of bariatric surgery (e.g., gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy).

Adjustable Control of Weight Loss: The gastric band is capable of being adjusted by the surgeon once it is placed in the body through a small access port placed under the skin. This gives the doctor the ability to adjust the restriction level, allowing for greater control over the rate of weight loss.
Reversible Procedure: Unlike many other bariatric surgical procedures, lap band surgery is not considered a permanent procedure. The band can be removed if needed months or years after placing it.
Significant Results from Weight Loss: Patients can expect to lose 40% or more of their excess weight within the first year of their surgical procedure, depending on changes made to their lifestyle and following the recommended diet.
Rapid Recovery: Due to being a minimally invasive surgical procedure, recovery times are usually shorter than those for open surgical procedures.
Reduced Risk of Complications: Lap band surgery is a relatively simple procedure when compared to other types of bariatric surgical procedures and is usually associated with fewer complications than these other types of procedures.

Difference Between Lap Band and Gastric Sleeve Procedures

The difference between gastric banding and a Gastric sleeve procedure is that with the gastric sleeve procedure, a large part of the stomach is surgically removed, thus creating a long, narrow sleeve-shaped stomach. However, this much smaller stomach will also significantly reduce the body's production of the hormone referred to as ghrelin. Ghrelin is a hormone produced and released by the body that triggers hunger. Therefore, because the stomach is not removed with Lapband surgery, your appetite is controlled primarily by the amount of food your stomach is able to hold.

Top Hospitals Performing Lap Gastric Band Surgery in India

There are a number of hospitals identified as excellent locations to perform advanced bariatric surgery throughout India. Listed below are some of the hospitals offering lap gastric band surgery in India

Max Super Speciality Hospital
Artemis Health Institute
Medanta - The Medicity
Gleneagles Hospital Mumbai
Indraprastha Apollo Hospital
Global Health City

These hospitals are equipped with new technology for performing surgery and have experienced surgeons performing these surgical procedures.

Ideal Candidate for Lap Gastric Band Surgery

The ideal candidates for surgery will typically consist of people who:

Have a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 40
Have a BMI that exceeds 35, and suffer from additional medical conditions such as Diabetes, Hypertension, or High Cholesterol
Weigh around 200% of the "ideal" body weight
Are aged 18-60 years
Are motivated to improve their overall health as well as their overall quality of life

Candidates for the surgical procedure will require a thorough evaluation by an experienced physician before they can be approved for the procedure.

Laparoscopic (Lap) Gastric Band Surgery

Lap gastric band surgery is done laparoscopically (this is often referred to as "keyhole surgery"). A laparoscopic approach uses small incisions and specialized instruments during surgery, which allow for a more rapid recovery and a reduction in the risks associated with surgery.

During the surgery:

Two to five small incisions are made on the abdomen
A laparoscope (a thin tube with a camera at the end) is inserted through an incision to give the surgeon a clear picture of the stomach
The deflated gastric band is placed on the upper portion of the stomach
The band is connected to an access port placed under the skin with a small tube
Saline can either be added or removed through this port in order to adjust the tightness of the band

It usually takes 40-60 minutes to complete the surgery.

After having laparoscopic band surgery, a patient typically will stay in the hospital for two to three days post-operatively for observation and recovery. International patients (traveling from countries outside of India) should plan to stay in India for approximately 10 days after surgery to allow for follow-up visits.

Most patients will experience mild discomfort for the first few days after surgery, although they usually improve very quickly. After about 10-14 days after surgery, most people return to their daily lives. Continuing to follow the nutrition guidelines from the surgeon and nutritionist and other lifestyle recommendations set forth during your preoperative consultations is important for weight loss success.

If patients have any unusual symptoms following surgery (i.e., severe pain or nausea), they should contact their physician immediately. In general, most patients will avoid strenuous physical activity during the early part of their recovery period.

Cost Factors for Lap Gastric Band Surgery

There are many cost factors associated with lap gastric banding surgery, including:

Type and brand of the band
Surgeon's fee is related to the experience level of the surgeon
Overall health status of the patient
Technique used to perform the procedure
Length of time in the hospital
Accreditation level of the hospital
The region where the surgery is performed

The listed factors can all have an impact on the total cost of treatment; however, India is typically one of the most affordable places for laparoscopic gastric band surgery.

Reasons to Select India for Lap Gastric Band Surgery

India is an increasingly popular choice for people seeking bariatric surgical procedures because of many advantages.

Internationally approved facilities: Many Indian facilities have been acknowledged as meeting NABH/JCI standards and, so, have been confirmed to be providing care that is highly safe and of very high quality.
Economically beneficial costs: Compared to countries in the West, patients can save a great deal of money (60%-70%) in total when they choose to have treatment in India.
Customised treatment packages: Indian facilities very often provide their patients with the ability to create a treatment package that consists of consultations, surgery, hospitalisation, and follow-up care to meet their specific needs.
Worldwide medical tourism support: Medical tourism facilitators are used by international patients to assist with supporting them with the following types of services:

Appointment scheduling
Travel/accommodation arrangements
Visa assistance for medical purposes
Airport transfers and local assistance
Complete coordination of all follow-up post-treatment

These types of support services make it easier for patients to travel to India for their surgery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Recovery is usually quick since it is a minimally invasive procedure. Patients can return to normal daily activities within 10-14 days, although strenuous activities should be avoided initially.

Ideal candidates typically have a BMI over 40, or over 35 with related conditions like diabetes or hypertension. They should also be committed to making long-term lifestyle changes for successful weight loss.

In lap band surgery, no part of the stomach is removed, and the band is adjustable and reversible. In contrast, gastric sleeve surgery permanently removes a portion of the stomach and reduces hunger hormones.