LAP BAND SURGERY

Approved by the FDA in June 2001 the BioEnterics® LAP-BAND® Adjustable Gastric Banding System is the newest and the only adjustable surgical treatment for morbid obesity in the United States. It induces weight loss by reducing the capacity of the stomach, which restricts the amount of food that can be consumed. Since its clinical introduction in 1993, more than 100,000 LAP-BAND® procedures have been performed around the world.  

This type of procedure is a restrictive surgical procedure where a band is placed around the upper part of the stomach. The band divides the stomach into two portions, one small and one larger portion. This way the food is regulated and most patients feel full faster on a small amount of food. The digestion of food occurs through the normal body processes. 

The LAP-BAND System is a silicone elastomer ring designed to be placed around the upper part of the stomach and filled with saline on the inner surface. This creates a new small stomach pouch and leaves the larger part of the stomach below the band so the food storage area in the stomach is reduced, and the pouch above the band can hold only a small amount of food. The band also controls the stoma (stomach outlet) between the two parts of the stomach. The size of the stoma regulates the flow of the food from the upper to the lower part of the stomach. When the stoma is smaller, you feel full sooner and have a feeling of satiety so you are not hungry between meals.

The band is connected by tubing to an access port that is placed beneath the skin during surgery. Later, the surgeon can change the stoma size by adding or subtracting saline inside the inner balloon through the access port. This adjustment process helps drive the rate of weight loss. If the band is too loose and weight loss inadequate, adding more saline can reduce the size of the stoma to further restrict the amount of food that can move through it. If the band it too tight, the surgeon will remove some saline to loosen the band and reduce the amount of restriction.

Lap Band Surgery Advantages

• Reversible. This may be particularly important in the early stages of pregnancy or in the case of malignancy. Although it is reversible, there are still changes to the stomach and esophagus that occur as a result of the surgery
• Less invasive with no cutting or stapling of the bowel, and no re-routing of the intestines
• Less time may be spent in the operating room under anesthesia
• Because of certain pre-existing conditions, some patients may be better surgical candidates for the Adjustable-Band rather than the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
• There may be a shorter hospital stay with the Adjustable-Band procedure

Lap Band Surgery Disadvantages

• Slower weight loss initially and less weight loss overall
• Less tolerance to solid food, especially meat
• More patient compliance necessary due to band adjustments and the time required to learn how to properly live with the band
• Involves placement of a foreign object inside the body, and may require removal and/or replacement

Potential Complications

• Band slippage which may require having another surgery
• Erosion of the band which may mean removal of the band or repair of the stomach with the possibility of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
• Bleeding
• Infection of the port site
• Port leaking
• Pulmonary embolus (blood clot)

Next Step

• Barix Clinics offers several surgical weight loss options. Schedule a consultation with a surgeon to discuss which option is best for you