Obesity Specialist in Santa Barbara County Comments on LAP-BAND Study

SANTA BARBARA, CA, August 20, 2010 (Press-News.org) A recent study indicates that LAP-BAND weight loss surgery can provide both physical and psychological benefits to patients. A board-certified surgeon and obesity specialist in Santa Barbara County, Dr. David Scott Thoman (www.sbmis.com) discusses the study and explains that the results reflect what he has seen at his own practice.

"This study, based in the UK, followed 4 obese men and 21 obese women before and after LAP-BAND surgery," says Dr. Thoman. "The patients completed psychological testing at 6 months and 12 months after surgery. Not only had the patients' physical health improved, but their emotional and psychological health improved as well. Seeing the results of this study is particularly exciting for me because they reflect what I have seen among my own bariatric surgery patients."

In addition to LAP-BAND surgery, Dr. Thoman also offers his patients from Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Fresno, Ventura, and Bakersfield several other bariatric surgery options. One of his more popular procedures is Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. Like LAP-BAND, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is performed laparoscopically, which means that a small camera is used to minimize the invasiveness of the surgery. With this procedure, weight loss may occur more quickly than with LAP-BAND surgery. Dr. Thoman also performs laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, which removes the widest part of the stomach and reduces its volume by up to 70 percent. He uses the single incision laparoscopy (through the navel) technique both for both LAP-BAND surgery and sleeve gastrectomy.

LAP-BAND surgery is a minimally invasive alternative to traditional gastric bypass. During the procedure, an adjustable silicone band is placed around the top of the stomach to create a small pouch. This makes the patient feel full faster, allowing them to consume only small amounts of food at a time. Unlike gastric bypass, this procedure is reversible, only involves a single incision and often requires less recovery time.

"Through my many years performing weight loss surgery, I have seen how these procedures have improved the lives of men and women on both a physical and emotional level," says Dr. Thoman. "As the weight comes off, they feel better and are able to get out and do more. Then, as they are able to socialize and exercise more, they feel even better. Clearly, when it comes to weight loss, physical and emotional health go hand-in-hand."

Obesity does not only affect a person's physical health; it has a great impact on their entire life, including their social, emotional, and psychological well-being. With so many compelling reasons to lose the weight, it's no surprise that weight loss surgery is gaining in popularity. However, Dr. Thoman advises that his patients explore other Santa Barbara weight loss programs first, before considering surgery. If diet and exercise don't work, then surgery may be the best way to achieve sufficient weight loss.

"If you have tried non-surgical methods of weight loss and are still obese, you may benefit from bariatric surgery," says Dr. Thoman. "I'd recommend meeting with a qualified bariatric surgeon and learning more about your options. You have so much to gain - physically, psychologically, emotionally - you owe it to yourself to find out what weight loss could do for you."

Dr. David S. Thoman (www.sbmis.com) is a board-certified surgeon located in Santa Barbara, California, who specializes in minimally invasive and laparoscopic gastrointestinal and weight loss surgery. He is the first surgeon on the Central Coast to offer several procedures using the single-incision method, which results in less scarring and faster healing. Dr. Thoman earned his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is the Medical Director of Bariatric Surgery and the Associate Director of Surgical Education at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. He is also a member of several professional societies including: the American Medical Association, American College of Surgeons, Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons, American Society of Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery, and Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgery.

Website: http://www.sbmis.com/