Weight Loss - Lap Band® Surgery

Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding - Lap Band® Procedure

Bariatric Surgeons often state that weight loss surgery gives patients a tool to help them lose the excess weight and prevent weight gain long term. This is especially true for the Lap Band® procedure. The Lap Band® is an adjustable tool that can be customized to meet the needs of the individual. The Lap Band® is an inflatable silicone band placed around a very specific portion of the upper stomach. The procedure creates a small pouch of stomach above the band and the band acts as an adjustable valve, slowing the rate food passes into the remaining stomach below the Lap Band®. The more the band is inflated the longer it takes to empty the small stomach pouch of food. Patients feel full after eating a very small amount of food and remain free of hunger for hours after a small meal.

This procedure is purely a restrictive surgery. The capacity of the stomach is greatly reduced so less food can be consumed at each meal. The anatomy of the patient’s gastrointestinal tract is essentially unchanged. There is no intestinal re-routing so the risk of malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies is negligible. Weight loss tends to be slower than other procedures like the Gastric Bypass and Duodenal Switch Procedure. Most patients can expect to lose 55 to 60% of their excess body weight over 1 to 2 years. The long term weight re-gain frequently seen with the gastric bypass is not common with the Lap Band® Procedure. The complication rate of the Lap Band® procedures is less than half that of the more complex Gastric Bypass or Duodenal Switch (9% versus 23%). The mortality rate is over 10 times less than the gastric bypass (0.1% versus 1.0 %). The safety profile of the Lap Band® allows us to perform >65% of our patients as same day surgeries. The Lap Band® procedure is also easily reversed if necessary.

Patients considering the Lap Band® Procedure should be prepared to make a commitment to regular follow-up visits with their surgeon and nurse coordinator for ongoing educational support and Lap Band® adjustments. Most patients require up to six adjustments to reach their optimal level of restriction. Monthly office visits for adjustments for the first 12 months is typical for optimal weight loss.

Advantages

• Least Invasive bariatric procedure
• No stomach stapling, cutting or removal
• No intestinal re-routing (anastomosis)
• Adjustable
• Reversible
• Lowest complication rate of all bariatric procedures (9%)
• Lowest mortality rate (0.1%)
• Lowest risk of malabsorbtion or vitamin and mineral deficiencies
• Least expensive option for patients paying for their procedure