Union Bariatric Surgery
Obesity is rapidly becoming a worldwide epidemic. The staggering health risks and costs associated with the disease demand new therapies to treat and prevent this growing problem. Union Hospital have introduced a number of minimally invasive obesity treatments to Hong Kong, aiming to provide patients safe, effective and scientific methods to lose weight. These treatments are widely used around the world and have been proven to be the most effective ways to help reducing health risk that are related to obesity.
Bioenterics Intragastric Balloon (BIB® System)
This is a non-surgical weight loss treatment. BIB® is placed in the stomach by endoscope and acts as a bezoar partially filling the stomach to induce early satiety. It is a kind of behavioral therapy. It assists patients to adapt to a new healthy eating habit and comply with hypocaloric diet prescribed by physicians and dietitians.
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Advantages
1. No side effects from medications
2. Minimally invasive treatment without surgery
3. Completely reversible
4. Correct undesirable eating behavior to achieve long-term weight control
Cautions
1. May cause abdominal discomfort, nausea, and vomiting following balloon placement
2. May cause gastroesophageal reflux or injury to gastrointestinal tract
3. Can only be performed and monitored by licensed physicians
4. Not recommended for cosmetic purposes
5. BIBR should be removed within 6 months
Contraindications
1. Active inflammatory or peptic diseases of GI tract
2. Patients with high risks of GI bleeding
3. Patinets with history of gastric surgery
4. Patients not comply to the physician and the dietitian advice and follow-up
5. Patients on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or anti-coagulants
6. Patients who are pregnant or nursing babies |
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Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding (LAP-BAND® System)
Approved by the FDA in 2001, LAP-BAND® Surgery is the safest and least invasive bariatric surgery for obesity. The LAP-BAND® is a small, inflatable belt placed around the upper portion of patientˇ¦s stomach that functions to restrict the amount of food consumed and provides a constant feeling of being ˇ§fullˇ¨. The weight loss result is sustained and progressed over a long period of time with no malabsorption.
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Advantages
1. Minimally invasive treatment with a few small incisions
2. Safe
3. Fast recovery (2 days)
4. Adjustable
5. Long-term significant weight loss
6. Potential reversible
Cautions
1. Bleeding and leakage may happens in 0.5% of cases
2. Irreversible
3. Good complicance with physician and dietitian advice is required
4. Not recommended for cosmetic purposes |
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Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy
Sleeve Gastrectomy is also known as vertical gastrectomy. In this operation, the greater curve of stomach is excised by staples to create a new 150 cc banana-shaped gastric pouch. It generates weight loss by restricting the amount of food that can be eaten without any bypass of the intestines or malabsorption. In addition, this procedure reduces most Ghrelin (an appetite hormone) production, and therefore creating a significant weight loss.
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Advantages
1. Minimally invasive treatment with a few small incisions
2. Safe
3. Fast recovery (3-4 days)
4. Significant and fast weight loss
5. Limited long-term complications
6. No foreign body
Cautions
1. Bleeding and leakage may happen in 0.5% of cases
2. Irreversible
3. Good compliance with physician and dietitian advice is required
4. Not recommended for cosmetic purposes |
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Comparison of Obesity Treatments
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