How Are Lap-Bands Secured?

For people with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or even higher, gastric surgery may be an option to help them regain control over their weight and their lives. A Lap-Band procedure is one such surgery that is minimally invasive and fully adjustable after the band has been inserted. The Lap-Band helps restrict food passage and allows the patient to feel full soon after eating, which leads to fewer calories eaten throughout the day.

Instructions

• 1

  Understand the procedure. The surgeon will cut three to five 1-cm incisions in the abdomen, providing access points to the upper stomach. She will then insert the gastric band device through the incisions and place it around the upper part of the stomach. This results in a small pouch created at the top of the stomach.

• 2

  Know how the band is secured. It is inflated, adjusting the size of the pouch, which also adjusts how much food can be eaten at one time.

• 3

  Plan for recovery. Patients can be released home to begin their recovery after a 24 to 28 hour hospital stay for observation. The Lap-Band can continue to be adjusted over time based on weight loss results.