Lose Weight With Fewer Complications With Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band (LAP-BAND® or Realize™)

The Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding (LAP-BAND or Realize) is a surgical procedure that allows patients to lose weight without cutting, stomach stapling or gastrointestinal re-routing required with traditional gastric bypass surgeries.

The Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band has several advantages:

• Less surgical trauma
• Fewer complications such as pain and scarring
• Shorter hospitalization and recovery

What is the Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band(LAP-BAND or Realize) ?

The Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band uses a silicone ring and a saline-filled inner balloon that is placed around the upper stomach. It creates a new, smaller stomach pouch.

How does the Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band work?

The larger part of the stomach below the band is kept intact so that the stomach has a smaller food storage capacity. The pouch can only hold a small amount of food. The band also regulates the stoma (stomach outlet), which allows patients to feel fuller sooner and eat less because they feel satisfied with less food.

The procedure is adjustable and reversible, thanks to an access port that is connected by tubes to the band and placed beneath the skin during surgery. Bariatric surgeons can change the size of the stoma by adding more or taking away saline inside the inner balloon through the access port.
Surgeons can adjust the band if it is too loose and more weight loss is needed, or add more saline to reduce the stoma to restrict food storage and increase weight loss. Or, if less weight loss is needed, surgeons can remove saline and loosen the band to allow greater food storage.

How is the procedure implemented?

The Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band is placed laparoscopically using general anesthesia. It is considered minimally invasive surgery. The surgeon makes several small incisions, or ports, in the wall of the abdomen. A narrow camera is passed through an incision so the surgeon can view the area with a video monitor. Next, the surgeon makes a small tunnel behind the top of the stomach. The tunnel allows the band to go through and wrap tightly around the upper part of the stomach. The surgeon locks the ring around the stomach.

What results can I expect?

The Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band helps patients achieve long-term weight loss by limiting the amount of food, reducing appetite and slowing digestion. The LAP-BAND System alone will not cure morbid obesity or solve your weight loss problems. How much weight you lose depends on two things: The band and your commitment to a healthier lifestyle and new eating habits.

Is the LAP-BAND System removable?

The system is adjustable and reversible. Your surgeon’s recommendation to remove the band will be based on complications and medical conditions that progress. If the band is removed and your stomach returns to its original condition you may gain weight.

Why should I get the LAP-BAND?

The LAP-BAND® offers several advantages. It is a minimally invasive procedure with less risks and side effects than a gastric bypass. More than 300,000 procedures have been performed worldwide, making it the top-selling adjustable gastric band for weight loss.

Am I a candidate?

The decision to undergo LAP-BAND surgery should be made with the advice of a physician.

You may be a candidate if:

1. You are 18 and older.
2. Your BMI is 40, you are twice your ideal weight, or you weigh 100 pounds over your ideal weight.
3. You have been overweight for more than three years.
4. You have only short-term weight loss success.
5. You do not have other diseases that may have caused your obesity.
6. You are willing to make significant lifestyle changes, including eating habits.
7. You are willing to continue treatment with the bariatric surgeon who performed your procedure.
8. You do not consume excess alcohol.

Who should not get LAP-BAND?

You may not be a good candidate for the LAP-BAND System if you have the following health conditions:

1. You have inflammatory disease or gastrointestinal problems such as ulcers, severe esophagitis or Crohn’s disease.
2. You have severe heart or lung disease that would make you a poor candidate for surgery.
3. You have others diseases that would make you a poor surgery candidate or medical conditions such as esophageal or gastric varices (dilated vein) that would cause stomach or esophagus bleeding.
4. You have portal hypertension.
5. Your esophagus, intestine or stomach is abnormal.
6. You have an intraoperative gastric injury near the area where the band will be placed.
7. You have cirrhosis.
8. You have chronic pancreatitis.9. You are pregnant before surgery. (Doctors can adjust any lap band procedure for pregnancies after surgery).
9. You have alcohol or drugs addictions.
10. You are under 18.
11. You have an infection.
12. You use long-term steroids.
13. You will not obey dietary guidelines recommended for this procedure.
14. You are allergic to materials in the band.
15. You cannot bear pain from an implanted device.
16. You or someone in your family exhibits symptoms or has an autoimmune connective tissue disease such as lupus or scleroderma.

Make sure you and your physician investigate whether the Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band procedure is right for your lifestyle and weight loss goals. To find out more information on this procedure register to attend one of our weight-loss seminars. (link)

Register to attend one of our weight-loss seminars for more information about bariatric surgery.