Dr. Anthony Terracina is a surgeon specializing in weight-loss surgery. He graduated from the University of Mississippi Medical Center and completed his residency training at Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Texas. He and his family moved to Virginia in 2004 from Panama City, Florida, where he enjoyed a successful practice for 10 years. He has performed more than 800 gastric weight-loss procedures.

The Lap Band: A New Era in Weight-loss Surgery by Dr. Anthony Terracina Published: June 2006 As a surgeon, I am happy to help my patients live life to the fullest. For example, Amanda was an obese patient who could barely get out of bed. But now, because of a new procedure called LAP-BAND surgery, she has lost a total of 165 pounds in just over one year. She can exercise on her own schedule. She doesn’t feel the intense cravings for food that plagued her before. Amanda is a true success story for weight-loss surgery. Most people are familiar with the term gastric bypass surgery. This is an operation where a small gastric pouch is created to limit portion size and the remainder of the stomach is bypassed by the food. This was largely the weight-loss operation of choice, until now. I always hoped for a safer and equally effective procedure for my older patients. There was one man in particular, age 65, with numerous health problems, who would have benefited from the LAP-BAND procedure. His risk of death from the gastric bypass was 10 times greater than if he had received a LAP-BAND. Today, the LAP-BAND procedure is the fastest-growing procedure for weight-loss surgery in the U.S. and abroad. More than 200,000 have been performed worldwide. The LAP-BAND procedure is a simple, laparoscopic surgery that usually takes less than 40 minutes to perform. Imagine a watchband around your wrist: The gastric LAP-BAND functions very similarly. The surgeon places an adjustable silicone band around the upper section of the stomach to help control portion sizes and give the patient a sense of fullness. The surgeon doesn’t have to cut, staple or re-route the intestine to promote weight loss. A patient’s hospital stay is minimal, and he or she can usually return to work or school within one week. The LAP-BAND procedure is reversible, and most importantly, it’s adjustable – two characteristics that are unique only to this type of weight-loss surgery. The surgeon can access a port connected to the band to reduce the volume of food the patient can consume. Because the band restricts the size of the stomach, a patient can go extensive periods of time without feeling hungry. With LAP-BAND surgery, the average patient can lose between one-and-a-half to two pounds per week as time progresses. It is these characteristics – safety, reversibility and adjustability – that have made the LAP-BAND procedure the fastest-growing weight-loss surgery in the United States. In 2001, the Food and Drug Administration approved the use of the LAP-BAND device for patients age 18 and above; however, many insurance companies still label the procedure as experimental. And although patients and physicians are beginning to realize the benefits of the LAP-BAND procedure, most insurance companies hesitate to cover the procedure in customer policies. New guidelines issued in February 2006 from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) extended insurance coverage for the LAP-BAND procedure to patients over age 65. More and more, insurance companies are understanding the benefits of LAP-BAND surgery. Acceptance of this procedure is what surgeons like myself have been waiting for – a way to better match the correct procedure to the health concerns of the patient. In addition to its physical benefits for patients, LAP-BAND surgery is the least expensive option for uninsured or underinsured patients, and for those whose health insurance doesn’t cover weight-loss surgery. The LAP-BAND procedure averages between $15,000 and $17,000 – a cost that usually includes all hospital, anesthesia, and surgeons’ fees in addition to one year of follow-up care. With so many benefits, it’s no wonder surgeons are witnessing a decline in demand for gastric bypass surgery, while the number of LAP-BAND procedures is more than doubling. The LAP-BAND procedure is a medical breakthrough in regards to safety, simplicity and effectiveness. Americans appreciate products and services that are both cost-effective and successful. Now that the LAP-BAND procedure is becoming universally accepted, (and, some experts believe is the most significant and sought-after procedure of our time) the gastric bypass may become an operation of the past. As a surgeon who loves to experience the successes of his patients, I’ve embraced the LAP-BAND procedure and made it an option for my patients who seek weight-loss surgery.

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