Lap Band

What is the Lap Band System?

The name “Lap Band” originates from the surgical technique (laparoscopy) and the name of the product (gastric band) used.

The Lap Band System is an adjustable silicon band that is placed around the stomach, invented to help lose excess body weight. Among the surgeries that reduce the amount of food the stomach can hold, this is the least invasive one.

The band is designed to limit the amount of food intake. When you eat less, your body uses fat reserves to obtain the energy it needs, which results in weight-loss.What are you going to eat after a lap band surgery?

A great advantage of the Lap Band System is that it can be adjusted depending on each individual patient. This is not possible with any of the other weight-loss surgeries. What are the advantages of the Lap Band procedure ?

Some fatcs about the Lap Band Surgery:

• It is performed by Laparoscopic surgery.

• The Lap band is fully reversible and does not permanently alter the anatomy..

• Expected weight loss:
  36 al 38 % excess body weight

• Hospitalization period:
  1 day

• Mortality:
  0%

• Possible complications:
  4% ( Erosions, Slippage, Obstructions )

Who should consider the Lap Band System as treatment for obesity ?

How does the Lap Band System work?

Our body obtains the energy it needs from the food that passes through our digestive tract. The digestive tract consists of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. Digestion begins in the mouth when the food is chewed and mixed with saliva. The food then passes through the esophagus and reaches the stomach, where it is temporarily stored while gastric juices, containing enzymes, break it down. Nutrients are then absorbed into the bloodstream.

How much weight will I lose with the Lap Band?

The Lap Band System is an empty silicon ring that is filled with saline solution (a solution very similar to our body fluids) and placed around the upper part of the stomach. This creates a small pouch, with the major part of the stomach below the band. The pouch above the Lap Band can only store a small amount of food. At the same time, the Lap Band controls the stoma, which is the passage from the small pouch to the lower stomach. Because food passes slowly from the pouch to the lower stomach, the patient feels fuller sooner, and the feeling of fullness lasts longer. How is the Lap Band System placed in the stomach ?

From time to time, the Lap Band System will have to be adjusted. This can be done without another surgery. To change the size of the stoma, the inner surface of the gastric band can be adjusted by adding or removing a small amount of saline solution, a procedure called inflation and deflation.

The Lap Band is connected via a thin tube to a reservoir that is placed beneath the skin during surgery. Afterwards, the surgeon is able to control the amount of saline solution by inserting a thin needle through the skin and guiding it into the reservoir. If the Lap Band is loose and the weight-loss is little, the adding of more saline solution will reduce the size of the stoma. On the other hand, if the Lap Band is too tight, it can be loosened by removing a small amount of saline solution.

Being capable of adjusting is a unique characteristic of the Lap Band System and is a normal procedure during the weight-loss process. What other advantages does the Lap Band System have?

If adjusting the gastric band does not help to lose the weight desired, another surgery may be necessary to change the position of the gastric band or to reduce the size of the new stomach. Surgery may also have to be done if the gastric band is very tight.

Risks, possible complications, and adverse situations of the lap band procedure you should know

Lap Band Surgery Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)