Slimming Silhouette

Type 2 diabetes, often referred to as a “lifestyle disease,” is generally the result of poor eating habits. Most of the time, that means diets containing too many empty calories from carbs and fats. When she was only 30 years old Silvana Monacco was told by her doctor that she was borderline diabetic. “It scared the crap out of me,” says Monacco.

After trying numerous weight loss programs, her 346-pound figure remained the same. To help her lose weight and decrease her chances of acquiring the disease, Monacco sought the help of Slimband. Then, in November 2002, Monacco underwent the Slimband procedure. After only 18 months, she had lost more than 200 pounds and no longer feared becoming a Type 2 diabetic.

There has been a growing number of North Americans looking for a reliable, effective and long-lasting option to control their weight. Many individuals, specifically women, try dieting but studies have shown that most find it difficult to maintain their results. As a result of this growing need, about nine years ago a new surgical procedure to effectively reduce excess weight emerged in North America. At their main medical clinic in downtown Toronto, the Slimband surgeons perform this minimally invasive, 20-minute procedure that ensures a long-term solution to losing weight, which can also greatly reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes.

Once the proper restriction is reached for each individual, no more adjustments are needed and the patient has effectively reached his or her ‘sweet spot’

Using laparoscopic techniques, the procedure is performed through a tiny incision in the belly button where (with the assistance of highly sophisticated equipment and cameras) the surgeon places the Slimband around the upper portion of the stomach. Once the band is in place, any food that is eaten sits in the top portion of the stomach, effectively sending a message to the brain that the stomach is full.

“The band allows the person to consume less food and therefore less calories, which in turn allows them to lose weight and keep it off. So you can eat smaller portions of the foods you enjoy and feel full without feeling deprived,” says Arlene Moshe, one of Slimband’s registered dieticians.

Patients usually go home the same day of the procedure and can return to work two to four days later. Over the course of a few weeks, the patient receives a series of band adjustments or “fills” that allow the band to be tightened around the stomach, thereby reducing the speed at which the food passes into the lower stomach. Once the proper restriction is reached for each individual, no more adjustments are needed and the patient has effectively reached his or her “sweet spot.” All band adjustments are covered under Slimband’s four-year support program and can be performed at any of their 100 locations throughout Canada. Monacco says she only needed three fills before she reached her “sweet spot.”

In the first few weeks following surgery, patients tend to lose a significant amount of weight and then settle into a more consistent one to two pounds of weight loss per week. “People say it’s only one to two pounds a week, but two pounds a week over 52 weeks is 104 pounds,” says Moshe. “Patients who have surgery often expect instant results, but our goal is to offer a safe, sustainable weight loss solution.”

Moshe says the majority of patients hit their target weight within the first six months to a year. In Monacco’s case, she lost 206 pounds in just under a year and a half — far exceeding her initial expectations. “I’ve never been 140 pounds before, not even in high school!”

The Slimband procedure is completely reversible and the band can be removed if necessary. However, Monacco says she will never get rid of her Slimband. “It’s part of me, it’s part of my body... It was life-changing.” And it certainly was: For the past eight years Monacco has celebrated two birthdays — her actual birth and the day she got her Slimband. •

The Slimband
Difference

The Slimband program offers a new and effective approach to losing weight and, more importantly, keeping it off. It’s a two-step process that involves the surgical implantation of a small band around your stomach and a four-year followup support plan that includes nutritional counselling, fitness programs and fill adjustments. The Slimband works in two ways:

1 — It helps you feel fuller faster

2 — It slows down your digestion so that you’re not hungry between meals

More than 400,000 surgeries have been performed worldwide and the results have been dramatic. The program typically results in 48% excess weight loss within the first year and research indicates that even after three to eight years, patients continue to maintain their weight loss.

The minimally invasive surgery is safe and fully reversible. There’s no stomach stapling involved and the procedure takes less than 20 minutes to complete. Patients go home the same day and typically find that it takes two to four days to get back to their normal routine.

Over time, patients discover their entire approach to eating changes in a very noticeable way. They still eat most of the same foods, only less. Why? They feel full quicker and that sensation of fullness lasts longer.
Another advantage to the procedure is a comprehensive team approach to successfully managing the weight loss journey. Specially trained experts are available to answer any questions, and a 24/7 private online community allows patients to interact with others who have had the surgery.

The Slimband offers an effective long-term treatment for weight loss and an exciting possibility for a healthier, more energetic life.