By Gloria Samuels

It is important to have realistic goals for weight loss surgery.  Most people approach weight loss surgery hoping for "results not typical."

"Typical results" are averages of large populations.  Some people have better results; some people have average results; some people fail to achieve average results.  There are a lot of factors involved.  Two important considerations that may influence your results are how you work your tool and your individual medical history.

For people with serious weight issues, based on the research I've done, typical results are:

For diet and exercise/medical therapy:

• 25% of excess weight lost (EWL) in ONLY 10 - 40% of patients
• 95% of patients regain (can you say yo-yo)

For Lap Band Surgery (according to the manufacturer of the LAP-BAND® system:

• 50% of excess weight lost (EWL) in the average patient at 2-3 years
• Long-terms studies indicate that at three years and beyond, weight loss with adjustable gastric banding is comparable to the roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass.

 ©2009 Allergan, Inc.,

 RYGB = Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

LAGB = Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding

 Average excess weight loss is comparable over time.

*Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding using the LAP-BAND^® System and another adjustable gastric band. Comparison is based on pooled data from 43 peer-reviewed reports involving at least 100 patients at entry and providing at least 3 years of postoperative data. Data at the five-year point is reflective of N=176 patients for RYGB and N=640 patients for LAGB.⁴