Lap band surgery

How a lap band works

In this procedure, an inflatable band is surgically placed around the top portion of stomach and is tightened like a belt to create a small pouch, which serves a new stomach. The size of this new stomach is much smaller, just about the size of an egg. It is possible to regulate band’s diameter around the stomach (and thus the size of the opening between the new and old stomach) by addition or withdrawal of saline (salt water).  In case a patient does not feel full after meals, the surgeon can further tighten the band to impede the passage of food. Since surgery does not permanently change the stomach, it is possible to reverse gastric banding by removing the band.

Lap band surgery benefits

The primary benefits of lap band surgery is its minimally invasive approach when compared to other surgical weight loss procedures:

• no staples - there is no use of staples that puncture the stomach

• no stomach incisions

• fully reversible procedure

• calibrated pouch and stoma size which is adjustable

• can be removed via minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery if necessary

• short hospitalization requirement (usually under 48 hours)

• typically less expensive

• faster post-operative recovery

• lower

Lab band surgery selection criteria

Determining if you are a candidate for lap band surgery is a question that only you can answer with in-depth consultation and guidance from your bariatric surgeon and general health practitioners.  For reference, a summary of the American Society of Bariatric Surgery consensus selection criteria for obesity surgery is listed below:

• Body Mass Index above 40 with the presence of other associated diseases that may improve with weight loss (such as diabetes, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, and painful joint condition arthritis)

• Between 18 and 55 years of age

• Obesity has been stable for more than five years

• Dietary and weight-loss drug therapy have failed for more than one year

• No glandular diseases (such as hypothyroidism)

• Full understanding of procedure risks and compliance by the patient

• No history of alcohol or drug dependency

• Acceptable levels of operative risk