Adjustable Gastric LAP BAND® Weight Loss Surgery

Gastric LAP BAND® obesity surgery is a non-permanent weight loss treatment that has become a popular option for people suffering from clinically severe obesity. It is a restrictive procedure that severely limits a patient's ability (and desire) to consume food. Similar to other restrictive bariatric surgeries, LAP BAND®, also called gastric banding, involves creating a smaller stomach chamber. Unlike gastric bypass, LAP BAND® weight loss surgery is easily reversible, a distinct advantage for prospective patients concerned about the possible side effects of bariatric surgery.

What is a LAP BAND®?

A LAP BAND® is a laparoscopically placed adjustable gastric band, used to constrict a section of the stomach. The LAP BAND® device 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 inflated with an injection of saline solution, the tube provides adjustable gastric banding. The reservoir used for injecting solution is implanted under the skin during gastric LAP BAND® obesity surgery. A bariatric surgeon can adjust the LAP BAND® tube at a later date by injecting or removing saline solution.

LAP BAND® Surgery Procedure

Gastric banding surgery is usually performed laparoscopically (learn more about laparoscopic surgery). Bariatric surgeons generally prefer the LAP BAND® method for obesity surgery, as it involves less discomfort and a shorter recovery period. The LAP BAND® device is carefully inserted through an abdominal incision and then maneuvered into place. The gastric band is positioned around a small section of the upper stomach, near the esophagus. The LAP BAND® itself has a clasp that fastens securely into position, causing a small pouch to be created. The bariatric surgeon can then adjust the constriction of the gastric band by inflating or deflating the tube lining the inside of the band, as described in the preceding section.

LAP BAND® Surgery Results

As with any medical procedure, LAP BAND® weight loss surgery results vary from patient to patient. The amount of weight a patient can expect to lose depends on several factors. For example, the LAP BAND® needs exact positioning for optimal surgery results. Even more importantly, the patient must be sincerely committed to the radically new lifestyle and the significantly altered eating habits required to make this surgery work. Rather than thinking of LAP BAND® as a miracle cure for obesity, those who undergo this surgery must accept the reality of the situation – that pounds do not simply come off by themselves. In the first year following LAP BAND® surgery, a weekly weight loss of two to three pounds is possible, but one pound per week might be more realistic.

Gastric bypass patients tend to lose weight faster than LAP BAND® surgery patients. Those results can be deceiving, however, since LAP BAND® patients are less likely to regain the lost weight over time. Learn more about the benefits and risks of LAP BAND® surgery.

Interested in Obesity Surgery? Find a Surgeon Near You

If you would like to learn more about gastric LAP BAND® weight loss surgery by speaking to a surgeon with expertise in this type of weight loss surgery, let DocShop help you locate a qualified LAP BAND® surgeon in your area.