"This is a great opportunity for individuals contemplating weight losssurgery to learn more about a minimally invasive, proven option forsurgical weight loss," said Frederick Johnson, MD, surgeon and co-medicaldirector for the Unity Hospital Bariatric Center.

During the laparoscopic gastric banding procedure, surgeons make severalsmall incisions and use long instruments, called laparoscopes, to place asilicone band around the top of the patient's stomach, creating a smallstomach pouch. As a result, the patient feels fuller with smaller amountsof food, resulting in weight loss. The band can be further adjusted tolimit or increase the amount of food the stomach can hold, or adapt tofuture lifestyle changes such as pregnancy.

In addition to weight loss, patients frequently see many other healthbenefits, including better control or resolution of diabetes, high bloodpressure, arthritis, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, asthma, heartburn,cancers and many other illnesses associated with morbid obesity.

This procedure also has significantly shorter recovery times than otherweight loss surgeries. "Laparoscopic procedures only require four to sixsmall incisions, rather than the much larger incision required fortraditional weight loss surgery," says Jeffrey Baker, MD, surgeon andco-medical director for the Unity Hospital Bariatric Center. "Most of ourpatients go home after one night in the hospital."

Nationally recognized as a "Bariatric Center of Excellence" by the AmericanSociety for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons, Unity Hospital's BariatricCenter is dedicated to helping patients achieve significant weight loss,which can lead to a healthier, more active lifestyle.

Unity's Bariatric Center has treated more than 5,000 patients for thedisease of morbid obesity since 1996. From its beginning, the center hasbeen a resource for community education, medical training, and patientcare. The Center offers a variety of proven weight loss surgery options,including open or laparoscopic Roux-en-y gastric bypass surgery, and theincreasingly popular laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (includingLAP-Band® and REALIZE Band(TM)).

Unity Hospital in Fridley, Minn.responds to a wide range of health care needs. Unity is part of Allina Hospitals & Clinics, anot-for-profit family of hospitals, clinics and other care servicesdedicated to meeting the lifelong health care needs of communitiesthroughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. More information about UnityHospital can be found at www.allinaunity.org

Lap-Band® is a registered trademark of Allergan Inc. (NYSE: AGN)

Learn more about this weight loss solution by visiting OR-Live.com

VNR: Adjustable Gastric Band

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