Laparoscopic banding is suitable for people who are severely overweight and who have not been able to lose weight with diet, exercise, or medicine. Patients typically lose 1-2 pounds per week as a result of the surgery, eventually shedding up to 50 percent of their excess body weight.

Adjustable gastric banding works by placing a band around the uppermost part of the stomach, separating the stomach into one large and one small portion.  The small section can hold about one ounce of food. The food from the small pouch  empties into the closed off portion of the stomach and then resumes the normal digestive process.  Obesity related conditions treated with lap band surgery may reduce or eliminate some health-related obesity problems. It may help to:

• Lower blood sugar
• Lower blood pressure
• Reduce or eliminate sleep apnea
• Decrease the workload of the heart
• Lower cholesterol levels

Cystoscopy is the use of a scope (cystoscope) to examine the bladder. This is done either to look at the bladder for abnormalities or to help with surgery being performed on the inside of the urinary tract (transurethral surgery). Areas that can be examined include the following:

• Urethra or urinary channel, including the prostate in men
• Bladder, which collects and stores urine
• The two ureters, small internal tubes that conduct the urine made by each kidney into the bladder
• A urologic surgeon, or urologist, performs cystoscopy. The procedure involves looking at the urinary tract from the inside. Abnormalities can be detected and surgical procedures can be performed. Cystoscopy is used to evaluate blood in the urine. Other indications for the procedure, include the evaluation of difficulty or painful voiding, bladder or urethral tumors, bladder stones, and prostate surgery.

Gallbladder removal, or cholecystectomy, is a surgery to remove the gallbladder via an incision in the abdomen. Doctors perform the procedure to provide permanent relief to a patient suffering from gallstones and other problems associated with the gallbladder.

The gallbladder is a small organ located on the underside of the liver. Its primary purpose is bile storage. The liver makes bile, a substance that helps the body break down fats. The gallbladder then stores the extra bile the liver makes, releasing it when you eat a meal with fats that need to be digested. Normal digestion is possible without a gallbladder. Bile will continue to reach your small intestine, but it just won’t be stored along the way in the gallbladder.

Unfortunately, the gallbladder isn’t always the most efficient organ. Bile can be thick and can create blockages along the patterns where it typically empties. The gallbladder is also prone to develop gallstones. Gallstones are hard deposits of substances in the bile that get stuck inside the gallbladder. They can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball. Gallstone disease, called cholelithiasis, can cause short or lasting pains in the abdomen. Gallstones can also cause infections to form, which can cause bloating, nausea, vomiting, and further pain. A surgeon will remove your gallbladder if gallstones cause pain and other complications.

A doctor may recommend surgery to repair a hernia that has become painful. An untreated hernia may result in complications such as strangulation, where part of the intestine is unable to work as it should.

Varicose is a medical term for abnormal swelling or dilatation. There are several theories for why varicosities in veins occur, but the general belief is they are caused by defective or damaged valves within the veins.  Varicose veins are caused by venous insufficiency as a result of valve reflux (incompetence). The venous insufficiency results in dilated, tortuous, superficial vessels that protrude from the skin of the lower extremities. Spider veins (telangiectases) are dilated capillary veins that are most often treated for cosmetic purposes.  Varicose veins are swollen veins that can be seen through the skin. They often look blue, bulging, and twisted. Left untreated, varicose veins may worsen over time and can cause aching, feelings of fatigue and skin changes like rashes, redness, and sores.