A new study found the cost of a gastric banding surgery is offset by reductions in obesity-related medical costs within two and a quarter years after surgery for diabetes patients and within four years for other patients, according to a release by Allergan.
Allergan, the maker of the LAP-BAND Adjustable Gastric Banding System, noted the study is in the peer-reviewed journal Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases, but access to the journal requires a subscription and it does not provide an abstract of the study.
Comparing healthcare claims data for 7,310 gastric banding patients with a matched control group, researchers found that while post-surgery medical costs for the gastric banding group declined slightly, medical costs for the control group continued to rise, thus resulting in significant savings for patients with the banding.
Read the Allergan release on gastric banding.
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