The lap band system was studied by a group of doctors on patients with a lower BMI, meaning the group of persons who would not meet the FDA guidelines and be approved. In the study Dr. Timothy Ehrlich participated, performing the lap band surgery on a fifth of patients. The results made everybody change their mind and see the efficaciousness of lap band surgery on patients' health and state of mind.
The Lap Band System is done on patients with a BMI of over 35 with at least one comorbid condition. The study on 149 moderately obese patients convinced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Gastroenterology and Urology Devices Panel of the Medical Devices Advisory Committee that the Lap Band can be safely performed on persons with a BMI of 30 and without any medical conditions associated, besides the ones that come from obesity.
This decision was taken after a 8-2 vote and the study mentioned earlier, where Dr. Timothy Ehrlich participated, performing the surgery on a fifth of study participants. Dr. Ehrlich is an experienced bariatric surgeon in the State of Connecticut. He established the program at St. Vincent's Medical Center Bariatric Surgery in Bridgeport in 2005 and is now director of bariatric surgery at Griffin Hospital.
The 30 patients operated by Dr. Ehrlich had a BMI between 30 and 40 and had symptoms related to their weight, such as high cholesterol, knee pain, depression and / or metabolic syndrome. As for any other weight loss surgery procedure, it was important to have tried to lose weight through all other natural ways and this to be the last resort.
Patients like Lisa Molholt, whou would not have otherwise met the FDA guidelines, are now given a second chance, as she can now achieve the desired weight loss goals. Lisa Moholt lost 110 pounds in 2 years and she is very happy with the results, her health is much better and is very thankful to Dr. Timothy Ehrlich.
