Lap Band
What is the Lap-Band?
The Lap-Band is a minimally-invasive weight loss system. It is a silicone ring which is surgically placed around the stomach, creating a smaller upper portion of the stomach and a larger lower portion. It works by helping you to restrict the amount of food you consume. Unlike some other weight loss procedures, there are no permanent changes to the digestive tract with the Lap-Band system.
How the Band Helps with Weight Loss
With the Lap-Band, the upper stomach portion only holds about an ounce of food at a time. It helps people lose weight by allowing them to feel more full after eating a smaller amount of food, and patients often report that they feel full for longer after eating. This allows people to have better chance at succeeding from the healthy eating and exercise choice they make.
How the Lap-Band Procedure Works
The Lap-Band consists of a soft silicone ring with an expandable balloon in the center, which is surgically placed around the top part of the stomach, effectively portioning-off the lower part of the stomach and creating a smaller upper stomach. The band is attached to an injection port with a thin, soft tube. The port goes just under your skin and allows us to adjust your band as needed. The band can be tightened or loosened by inflating or deflating the balloon in the band, through the port. The Lap-Band can be easily adjusted in our office and requires no special preparation.
Are you a Candidate for Lap-Band?
You may be a candidate for Lap-Band surgery if you have tried other weight loss methods without success. You must also have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of at least 35, or 30 if you have an obesity-related illness, such as Type 2 Diabetes or Sleep Apnea. The best lap band candidates are committed to making the necessary life style changes that will allow for substantial weight loss and the maintenance of their success.
Considerations
It’s important to understand that the Lap-Band is a weight loss tool, and while it is a highly effective tool, it requires a strong commitment to a healthy lifestyle in order to achieve the best weight loss results. Unlike gastric bypass or the gastric sleeve, Lap-Band surgery can be reversed if necessary, and in time, the stomach generally returns to its normal size.