Lap-Band
Lap-Band is an adjustable gastric silicon band which is placed in the stomach through laparoscopic surgery in order to reduce the amount of food your stomach can hold at one time. Approved by FDA, this procedure is the least invasive type of weight loss surgery for numerous reasons.
How It Works
Despite the fact that Lap-Band procedure is considered a surgery, it is indeed the least dangerous one of all its kind. This procedure primarily uses laparoscopic surgery with countless benefits, such as a less painful operation, swift recovery, reduced hospital stay as well as smaller scars. Since no internal organ is being removed or stapled, nor there is an intestinal re-routing - food is absorbed normally. Furthermore, Lap-Band gives the patient a quicker sensation of fullness and slows the emptying process in the stomach.
During the surgery, our Bariatric Surgeon uses the laparoscopic approach to insert a silicone band around the stomach, which creates a small pouch to control and limit food intake at the same time. After Lap-Band is placed, it is connected to a small access port positioned under the skin of the abdomen. It is important to note that adjustments are needed after the first four to six weeks, which are done via access port. This process is relatively simple, because there is no need for cuts - saline is added or removed to Lap-Band in order to tighten it or make it looser.
Please note that Lap-Band surgeries are only done in a local hospital or surgical center.
Benefits
As previously mentioned, the main benefit of Lap-Band is the minimally invasive approach. Some of the advantages of Lap-Band over other methods are, but not limited to:
- Minimal scarring due to laparoscopic surgery
- Swift recovery (in most cases, the patient returns to regular activities in matter of days)
- Lack of intestinal re-routing, stapling and cutting, resulting in a natural but gradual process of weight loss
- Adjustable band fit for individual needs
- Least invasive surgical method
- Healthiest of all gastric weight-loss procedures
Risks
Lap-Band procedure carries certain risks as any other major surgery, but it’s significantly reduced in comparison with other gastric procedures:
- At least ten times lower mortality rate
- Hair loss is less likely to occur
- Much lower risk of nutritional deficiencies
- No risk of rapid gastric emptying
It should be noted that this procedure is not for everyone. Like any other surgery, the patient must not suffer from major disease which makes surgery dangerous. Moreover, the patient should have a body mass index above 30 or at least 100 pounds more over his or her ideal weight. This procedure is not recommended for people with the following problems:
- Untreated diseases like hypothyroidism
- Alcohol or drugs dependency
- Intolerance to implanted devices
- Gastrointestinal tract disease such as ulcers, esophagitis or Crohn’s disease
