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LAP-BAND Medical Experts
Gastric Band and Plastic Surgery

Introduction

The Lap-Band® system is the least invasive of all weight loss surgeries. The system includes an adjustable silicon elastomer band that is surgically placed around the stomach. The band induces weight loss by restricting food intake; when eating less, your body draws from its own fat to get the energy it needs.

Approved by the FDA in 2001, the BioEntrics Lap-Band adjustable gastric banding system is the newest and safest surgical treatment for morbid obesity in the United States. It’s also the least invasive and the only adjustable surgical treatment available at this moment.

Since its introduction in 1993, more than 120,000 procedures have been performed around the world.

Least Traumatic Procedure

Since there is no cutting, stapling, or stomach rerouting, it is considered the least traumatic of all weight loss surgeries. This is possible by using laparoscopy to install the band which offers clear advantages like reduced pain and faster recovery.

Adjustable Treatment

The Lap-Band® is the only adjustable weight loss surgery; in fact, band adjustment is a regular part of follow up for this procedure and is done without the need of surgery. The amount of food you can eat can be adjusted by inflating or deflating the band. The band is adjusted as needed depending on your weight loss progress or other reasons like pregnancy or illness.

Fully Reversible

If for any reason the band needs to be removed, it can be done surgically. This makes it the only reversible weight loss surgical procedure available in the United States.

How does Lap-Band work?

Your body gets the energy it needs from food passing through the digestive system. The stomach stores the food while it is broken down by enzymes in the form of gastric juices. In this process, energy is carried through the body by the blood.

The Lap-Band’s adjustable band is placed around the upper part of the stomach creating a small pouch. This small pouch acts as a smaller stomach with less storage area. The adjustable band is a silicone elastomer hollow ring filled with saline. The flow of food from the pouch to the lower stomach is controlled (and restricted) by the size of the ring. This lets you fell fuller sooner and for longer periods of time.

To change the size of the ring (and thus the flow rate), the size of the band is adjusted by adding or removing saline, this is called inflating or deflating. Saline is a salty solution that is safe for the body.

The band is connected by a tube to a small container that is placed under the skin during surgery. Later, the surgeon can control the amount of saline in the band by inserting a fine needle in the container. If the patient is not loosing enough weight, more saline is added. If the band is too tight the surgeon will remove saline. This is all done without surgery.

The Lap-Band® system is the only adjustable system available in the United States. If for any reason the band needs to be removed it can be done surgically. This makes it the only reversible weight loss surgical procedure available in the United States. If the band is removed, the stomach returns to its original form; keep in mind that if this happens, the patient is likely to regain the weight.

The advantage of LAP-BAND is that it goes around the outside of the stomach, and the procedure can be reversed. I wouldn't have other surgeries. Having my stomach stapled is so final. Obviously, the LAPBAND is also final, because you have to 'wear' it for the rest of your life.

But it's good to know you can have it removed if there is a problem. With the LAP-BAND method, your new small stomach won't let you eat much. This means you can lose a lot of weight in a short time. It also means the weight loss is long lasting. With a diet, you always put the weight back on or even put on more. I've won the battle with my body and my mind. I'm going to make sure it stays that way."

LAP-BAND System patient

How is the Lap-Band® placed?

The name Lap-Band® comes from Laparoscopic Gastric Band. Laparoscopy is the surgical technique used to place the band. With Laparoscopy the surgeon makes a few incisions in the abdominal wall and inserts narrow, hollow tubes. Extremely small and thin instruments are then passed through the tubes. The instruments include a microscopic camera that sends video to a monitor that is used by the surgeon to see inside the abdomen. This technique is the least invasive of all weight loss surgeries and has the least risk of complications.

Once the instruments are in place, a small tunnel is made behind the top of the stomach. The band is then pulled around the stomach to form a ring. This ring is then locked holding securely the band in a circle around the stomach.

There are many advantages of the laparoscopy over an open surgery where a larger incision is required. After a laparoscopic surgery most people experience much less pain, there are fewer complications and patients are able to recover much faster, resuming activities usually within a few days.

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