There are several types of weight loss surgeries, but when it comes to gastric banding procedures, there are only two options available in the United States. One of those is the Lap-Band System. More than 300,000 people have undergone this FDA-approved procedure to lose weight. As with any surgery, there are advantages and risks, so people considering the Lap-Band procedure should discuss their options with a doctor.
Identification
Lap-Band surgery helps to reduce a person's food intake by decreasing the size and shape of the stomach. It involves restricting the stomach with an adjustable gastric band made of inflatable silicone. During the outpatient procedure, a surgeon will wrap a band around the top section of a patient's stomach by means of laparoscopic surgery. By restricting the stomach in this way, when a patient eats, he or she will eat less and feel full faster.
Lap-Band Candidates
Individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher are ideal candidates for Lap-Band surgery, according to the National Institutes of Health. Even those with a BMI between 35 and 39 may be eligible for the procedure if they have additional, obesity-related conditions. Such conditions include high cholesterol and diabetes. Some surgeons may also ask potential Lap-Band patients to discuss their previous, failed attempts at weight loss before scheduling an operation.
Function
During surgery, a surgeon inserts a Lap-Band by making small incisions in the patient's abdomen. The doctor then places the band around the top of the stomach and secures it with sutures. The surgeon uses a laparoscopic camera to ensure that the band is placed correctly. The Lap-Band is attached to a port, which is placed underneath the skin of the stomach. When the doctor injects saline into the port, the band inflates, and food intake is limited.
After the Procedure
Post-surgery, Lap-Band patients require several follow-up visits with their doctor, so he or she can provide saline injections and adjust the band. Over time, the band will need to be loosened or tightened to manage weight loss. It is also important that patients have a nutrition plan in place following surgery. By following a healthy diet, Lap-Band patients, on average, will go on to lose up to 60 percent of their excess body weight within two years of their operation.
The Realize Band
Gastric banding surgery can also be performed with a Realize Band, the other type of band available in the U.S. Although a somewhat new option, more than 100,000 people have undergone weight loss surgery with this band. The Realize Band was created in Sweden in 1985. It is similar to the Lap-Band System in that the band, coupled with a saline-filled port, is inserted laparoscopically to alter a patient's stomach and restrict food consumption.
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