Learn About Weight Loss Surgery

Sherri Dmyterko: Tammy Robertson is enjoying her new lease on life. She has lost nearly 100 pounds since under going Lap-Band surgery one year ago.

Tammy Robertson: I gained about 10 pounds a year over a period of 10-15 years. So you can do the math, I added up a great deal of weight in a short period of time. I looked into having a Lap-Band surgery because of my high blood pressure; I had high cholesterol, including my diabetes. My thyroid was really slow functioning and basically I was unable to lose the weight with regular diet means.

Sherri Dmyterko: Unlike the more common weight loss surgery, gastric bypass which involve stomach stapling, Tammy opted for a less invasive approach called gastric banding or Lap-Band surgery.

Tammy Robertson: After going to the surgical weight loss center, I knew that Dr. Chris Cobourn and had similar approaches to obesity in Canada and needing to get the weight off at a healthy pace, but to get it off and to keep it off. The Lap-Band enabled me to lose the weight that I needed to get back to the healthy life style that I had once lived and really missed.

Sherri Dmyterko: Dr.Chris Cobourn is the Medical director and surgeon at the Surgical Weight Loss Center in Mississauga, Ontario.

Dr. Chris Cobourn: People should consider weight loss surgery because obesity is the number one cause of preventable death in North America. Before her surgery Tammy suffered from a number of obesity related health issues. By achieving the significant weight loss that she has, she is now off her medications and feels like she is back to being the real her. Patients who have a Lap-Band surgery can be expected to lose somewhere between 60% and 70% of their access body weight, usually over the first two years after surgery. They do this in a very safe way maintaining a weight loss of generally 1-2 pounds per week.

Sherri Dmyterko: The Lap-Band system consists of an inflatable band wrapped around the upper part of the stomach and a port that sits under the skin. This port allows doctors to optimize the rate of weight loss for each patient.

Dr. Chris Cobourn: Lap-Band surgery is performed using Laproscopic surgery techniques. This is otherwise know as minimally-invasive surgery. Patients receive their operation under general anesthesia. Generally operation takes about 45 minutes to complete. The majority of our patients are discharged home from they are coming within 1-2 hours and can return to their normal activities in less than a week.

Tammy Robertson: I have lost 94 pounds. I has been able to take up activities that I haven't done in years. Figure skating, I have taken roller-blading. I feel much more confident and I am lot happier now that I have lost the weight. I am healthier, I am more energetic, I am able to keep up with my six year old. So there is a lot of positive that have come out of my Lap-Band surgery.

Sherri Dmyterko: For more information about the Lap-Band system check out the website obesitysurgery.ca. Sherri Dmyterko reporting.