The LAP-BAND® System: Adjustable Gastric Banding for Weight Loss

The LAP-BAND® System is a popular, reversible weight loss treatment for people suffering from clinically severe obesity. It is a restrictive procedure that severely limits stomach capacity and appetite, thus controlling calorie intake. As with other restrictive bariatric treatments, the LAP-BAND® creates a smaller stomach pouch. Unlike procedures such as gastric bypass and vertical banded gastroplasty, LAP-BAND® weight loss surgery is easily reversible, a distinct advantage for prospective patients concerned about the possible side effects of bariatric surgery.

How the LAP-BAND® System Works

The LAP-BAND® System is a circular band that is implanted around the stomach. It is made out of Silastic®, a type of plastic that does not react with internal body tissues. An inflatable tube is located inside the LAP-BAND®; when filled with an injection of saline solution, the tube can be adjusted to change the size of the stomach pouch. The reservoir used for injecting the solution is implanted under the skin during gastric LAP-BAND® obesity surgery, allowing bariatric surgeons to make adjustments after the initial procedure without the need for additional surgery.

Benefits of Adjustable Gastric Banding

There are many important benefits associated with the LAP-BAND® System. Perhaps most importantly, gastric banding is one of the safest surgical options available for clinically obese patients. The band is placed laparoscopically, a less invasive method of surgery that involves smaller incisions, a quicker recovery, and fewer potential post-surgical complications. Also, because the band is adjustable, LAP-BAND® patients can have their procedure tailored to fit their needs precisely. The system can be fine-tuned to maintain steady weight loss at a healthy rate. Finally, the LAP-BAND® System really works. Patients who undergo gastric banding can lose excess weight and maintain a healthier size for life.

Risks of Adjustable Gastric Banding

As with any surgical procedure, there are risks associated with LAP-BAND® surgery. Certain risks are common to every surgical procedure, including infection and bleeding. Though not totally impossible, the possibility of death during this surgery is very remote. In addition, some patients do experience complications after surgery, including heartburn, vomiting, stomach ulcers, stomach wall deterioration, swallowing problems, and gas bloat. For many patients, however, these post-surgical complications can be reduced or eliminated by changing eating habits or by adjusting the LAP-BAND® System itself. Before LAP-BAND® surgery, bariatric surgeons prepare their patients thoroughly, providing information about both the gastric banding procedure and the recovery process.

LAP-BAND® Recovery and Results

Though the LAP-BAND® System is among the least invasive options for surgical weight loss, gastric banding is still a major surgical procedure, and patients should expect a period of recovery after gastric banding surgery. Most patients are able to return to some normal daily activities within about a week of surgery, but the body takes several weeks to adjust to the band, making dietary considerations crucial to a successful recovery. Most bariatric surgeons work to develop a customized dietary plan for each patient, gradually introducing a wider range of foods over a period of several weeks after surgery. This allows the body to acclimate to the new size and shape of the stomach pouch, minimizing discomfort and allowing the patient to avoid potential side effects.

Find a Licensed Bariatric Surgeon in Your Area

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