Treatment Options
Do I Qualify?
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Bariatric Surgery
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Lap Band
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Realize Band
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Gastric Bypass
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Health Benefits
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StomaphyX
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Risks
| Choosing a Procedure
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BMI
Laparoscopic gastric band (LAP-BAND™) is a restrictive procedure,
it works by reducing the amount of food consumed at one time, yet doesn't
interfere with the normal absorption of food. The surgeon places an adjustable,
hollow band around the upper part of your stomach.
The band divides the
stomach into two sections, a small upper pouch and a larger lower section.
The band is then connected by a tube to a reservoir placed beneath your
skin during surgery. After surgery, the size of the opening between the
upper stomach pouch and the rest of the stomach is narrowed by injecting
saline into the reservoir via a fine needle through the skin causing the
inner part of the band to expand. As the opening that divides the two stomach
sections becomes narrower with subsequent adjustments, food stays longer
in the upper stomach pouch and one feels full for a longer period of time.
View
Animation of the Laparoscopic Gastric Band Procedure - Part
I
View Animation of the Laparoscopic
Gastric Band Procedure - Part II
Advantages of LAP BAND™:
- The primary advantage of this restrictive procedure is
that it reduces the amount of food consumed at one time,
yet doesn't interfere with the normal absorption of nutrients
and vitamins.
- Studies show that patients can maintain 55%-65% of targeted
excess weight loss even five years after surgery.
- It is the least invasive surgery since there is no stomach
stapling or cutting, or intestinal rerouting; there is no
risk of intestinal leak or dumping.
- Serious health risks are significantly improved or cured.
- The surgery is reversible and the band can be removed.
- The band can be adjusted in the office without requiring
further surgery.
- Surgery takes approximately one hour to perform and hospital
stay is one to two days.
Disadvantages of LAP BAND™:
- Regular follow up is critical for optimal weight loss.
The band needs to be adjusted approximately 3-5 times in
the first year to obtain the desired long term weight loss,
therefore patients need to be committed to regular follow
up with the same surgeon for the first few years.
- Patients who are sweet eaters (high calorie shakes, chocolate
or soda) will have a more difficult time losing weight with
this procedure.
- Other risks of surgery include slippage, erosion into the
stomach or port/tube problems that may require another operation
to correct.
