LAP-BAND System
The LAP-BAND System is an adjustable gastric band designed to help you lose excess body weight, improve weight related heath conditions and enhance quality of life. It reduces the stomach capacity and restricts the amount of food that can be consumed at one time. The LAP-BAND System procedure does not require stomach cutting and stapling or gastrointestinal re-routing to bypass normal digestion.
The name "LAP-BAND" System comes from the surgical technique used, laparoscopic and the name of the implanted medical device, gastric band. The LAP-BAND System is a silicone ring designed to be placed around the upper part of the stomach and filled with saline on its inner surface. This creates a new smaller stomach pouch that can hold only a small amount of food, so the food storage area in the stomach is reduced. The band also controls the stoma (stomach outlet) between the new upper pouch and the lower part of the stomach. When the stomach is smaller, you feel full faster, while the food moves more slowly between the new upper pouch and the lower part of the stomach. When the stomcah is smaller, you feel full faster, while the food moves more slowly between your upper and lower stomach as it is digested. As a result, you eat less and lose weight.
Advantages
- No intestinal re-routing, cutting or stapling of the stomach wall or bowel
- Adjustable and reversable, allowing for individualized degree of restriciton for ideal rate of weight-loss
- Low risk of nutritional deficiencies or malnutrition risk
- Hospital stay is usually less than 24 hours
- Full surgical recovery usually occurs within about 2 weeks
Risks
- Slower initial weight loss than Gastric Bypass
- Regular follow-up appointments are critical for optimal results
- Requires an implanted medical device to be placed into the body
- In some cases, effectiveness can be reduced due to band slippages
- The access port may leak and require additional surgical procedures