Dr. Yau, a pioneer of gastric banding in Canada

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Gastric banding is becoming a highly demanded option for obese individuals looking to use surgery to overcome their condition. Dr. Yau, a pioneer of gastric banding in Canada, practices at the Toronto LaparoscopicBAND Centre (TLBC). He take a moment to speak with Cityguide.

Here's an image of the type of procedure it is:
http://www.webmd.com/NR/rdonlyres/474ED14C-52A8-49AA-A504-308252859186.jpg

Why is banding a safer option than other procedures?
Adjustable gastric banding is considered to be the safest of all bariatric surgery options. It is minimally-invasive; the band is placed using laparoscopic techniques, which result in lesser scarring and shortened recovery times for patients. It is the only surgical procedure that does not involve any permanent alterations to the anatomy. It is also the only fully reversible option available - in the event that a band needs to be removed, the stomach returns to its original form and function. It is important to note that a patient who opts to remove his/her band is likely to gain weight again.

When did your interest develop in performing this sort of procedure?
It began as a technical exercise. Larger patients, of course, are much more difficult to operate on than other patients, particularly when performing laparoscopic procedures. I took it as a challenge, and worked to master the technique of laparoscopic, or keyhole, surgery.
But then something else became apparent. In medical school, we were only given about an hour on nutrition and weight-related concerns. Through experience, I observed that larger patients are not receiving the same level of care, nor were they being given sound medical advice on how to reduce their weight. The technical challenge then developed into a very personal mission - a mission to provide a sustainable, surgical treatment for permanent weight loss. This is what makes the Toronto LaparoscopicBAND Centre (TLBC) different...we offer our patients the surgery, as well as all of the post-op counseling and nutrition advice they will need to be successful in achieving their goals.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?
As physicians, we are asked to provide solutions to patients. Up until now, there was no lifelong solution for my obese patients. This was not very satisfying to me and I suspect to all the other physicians out there. Now that we have something to offer, seeing my patients' successes is definitely the most rewarding part of my job. The adjustable gastric band can, literally, give you back years of quality-improved life. The patient's lifestyle and the habits are what the procedure aims to treat - weight loss is just a lucky byproduct of the entire journey. To hear that my patients are now enjoying life, doing things they couldn't do when they were obese, is the true reward.

Is there a patient that you helped that really was special and sticks out in your mind?
All of my patients leave lasting impressions. I can remember a particular profile, however. It's a story that I often encounter - a person that has succeeded in all aspects of life, except in the battle against weight. Failure at maintaining a healthy weight affects that person's self-esteem. As a result, that patient begins to suffer from psychological issues, alongside being prone to diseases like diabetes and hypertension. The great news is that, after treatment with the band, this particular type of patient shows the most success.

Is there a particular demographic that seems to be the most common who are doing this procedure, or a segment that is growing in interest for it?
Shift workers are becoming a more prominent demographic at TLBC. Given their irregular work hours, most shift-workers are more likely to have bad eating habits.
Nurses, in particular, are victim to this. Nurses are also more attuned to taking care of others, rather than taking care of themselves. Often, their own needs and health fall victim to neglect. We are now seeing a stronger representation of nurses in TLBC's community.

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[ READER COMMENTS ]

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Gloria said:

Wanting information on Band over bypass. How many have you done and success rates?

Posted at 07:29 AM, on May 1 2010

Dr. Yau, a pioneer of gastric banding in Canada

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