Mar12th, Bariatric Surgeries in South Korea

First bariatric surgery in Korea was vertical sleeve gastrectomy(VSG) which was reported in Jan 2003. I started VSG with Marlex mesh banding in Feb 2003...

LAP-BAND® was approved by K-FDA in Aug 2004 and I have performed 80 VSG's till then. I'm one of the pioneers of bariatric surgery and LAP-BAND® in Korea.

Number of Morbidly obese people is increasing in Korea as well. more than 5~7% of adult population seems to be > 35 in BMI. (far less than United States though)

About 500 LAP-BAND® surgeries and 100 Gastric bypass were done last year in Korea.

This year number is anticipated upto 1,000...