Lap Band Surgery: Gastric Banding Procedure

The Lap Band surgery procedure, also known as a gastric band, is a restrictive type of weight loss surgery. The Lap Band has been an FDA-approved treatment for morbid obesity in the United States since 2001. Gastric banding procedures are the second most common form of weight loss surgery, next to gastric bypass surgery which is the most common.

What to Expect with Lap Band Surgery

• You will need to make long-term dietary changes after lap band surgery.
• The lap band surgery will not reduce hunger.
• You will lose weight and get the best results if you eat appropriately and stick to the appropriate diet.
• The operation is quick and minimally invasive.
• The Lap Band remains permanently unless you opt to have it removed, but this involves additional surgery.
• Snacking can lead to gaining weight, although will not give you dumping syndrome as can be experienced with gastric bypass surgery.
• Lap Band surgery tends to help improve comorbidities associated with obesity.
• There is a potential for lap band surgery complications and risks but these tend to be less severe when compared to other types of bariatric surgery.

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How Does Lap Band Works

During the operation, the bariatric surgeon will place the Lap Band, or gastric band, around the upper portion of your stomach just below your esophagus. Next. your surgeon will insert a small port beneath the skin and fat, attaching tubing to the gastric band. This will allow for the Lap Band to be adjusted following the surgical procedure. Your weight loss surgeon will then fill the gastric band with saline, compressing the stomach so that the patient feels full sooner and longer until the food passes into the main part of the stomach. Typically, surgeons will do a Lap Band adjustment a few weeks following the surgery. A gastric band may need to be filled with saline several times to create the right balance.

Amount of Weight Loss to Expect After Lap Band Surgery

The typical weight loss during the first year after Lap Band surgery is 40% of your excess weight. By year 3, the average weight loss is 43% of all excess weight. In addition to the weight loss, patients undergoing Lap Band surgery can also expect improvement in comorbidities such as acid reflux disease, sleep apnea, and Type II Diabetes.