Laparoscopic Gastric Band

This is the least invasive surgery. This is also reversible. This operation works by reducing the stomach size, thus limiting the food intake. There is no change to the digestive process. Thus, normal absorption of nutrients from food is not affected. This approach is called restrictive approach.

To create a small pouch in the stomach, surgeon places an adjustable hollow band around the upper part of stomach. The band divides the stomach into a smaller pouch at the top and a large lower section. The band acts like an adjustable passage between stomach  pouch and rest of the stomach.  When this passage is narrowed, food in the stomach pouch passes down slowly through it. That is, food stays longer in the stomach pouch, thus giving the feeling of a full stomach for a longer time.  The result is  longer intervals between food intake, in addition to lesser food intake at a time. 

During the surgery, in addition to the band, the surgeon places a reservoir under the skin of the abdomen. The band is connected by a tube to this reservoir. After the surgery, saline is injected into the reservoir. This inflates the inner lining of the band and tightens it, thus narrowing the passage from stomach pouch to the lower part of the stomach.

View Animation of the Laparoscopic Gastric Band Procedure - Part I
View Animation of the Laparoscopic Gastric Band Procedure - Part II

Advantages of LAP BAND™:

The greatest advantage of this procedure is that it does not affect the absorption of nutrients and vitamins from food. It  only limits  the amount of food that can be consumed at one time.

Studies show that patients can maintain 55%-65% of targeted excess weight loss even five years after surgery.

It is the least invasive surgery for weight loss. There is no surgical operation on the stomach itself or any other part of the digestive system. As a result, there is no risk of intestinal leak or dumping. Serious health conditions owing to or aggravated by obesity, are significantly improved or cured.

• The surgery is reversible and the band can be removed.

• The band can be adjusted in the office without requiring further surgery.

• Surgery takes approximately one hour to perform

• Hospital stay is one to two days.

Disadvantages of LAP BAND™:

Regular follow up is critical for optimal weight loss. The band needs to be adjusted approximately 3-5 times in the first year to obtain the desired long term weight loss, therefore patients need to be committed to regular follow up with the same surgeon for the first few years.

Since nutrient absorption is not affected, weight gain due to consumption of high calorie foods and sweets cannot be controlled.

Other risks of surgery include slippage, erosion into the stomach or port/tube problems that may require another operation to correct.