Lap Band Surgery: Helping Patients To Get Rid Of Their Excess Weight

Laparoscopic adjustable band otherwise known as lap band is an inflatable silicone device wrapped around the upper abdomen. It aims to slow food consumption and therefore the amount of food consumed is an example of bariatric surgery designed for obese patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher — or between 35 and 40 in cases of common co-morbidities known to improve with weight loss, such as sleep apnea, diabetes, osteoarthritis, GERD, Hypertension (high blood pressure), or metabolic syndrome, among others.

Adjustable gastric band surgery incision is often referred to as a lap band procedure. First, small flaps are made near the belly button. Carbon dioxide gas is introduced into the stomach to create a workplace for the surgeon. A small laparoscopic camera was placed through the flaps into the abdomen to create a workspace for the surgeon.

A small bladder is created at the top of the abdomen with a controlled and adjustable stoma without stapling to limit food intake. This is a surgery performed under general anesthesia and can take between 30 minutes to an hour. The advantage of this surgery is that it does not cut the stomach, any stapling from the stomach and thus limit the amount of food taken.

This is the smallest laparoscopic surgery; it slows down the emptying of food in the stomach. According to research, lap band surgery has proven to be an effective long-term method of losing weight for obesity. Studies also show that lap band surgery has a lasting effect on weight loss. Weight loss with gastric intake tends to be gradual. You can lose up to two or three pounds a week in the first year after surgery, but one pound a week is average. This slows down within 12 to 18 months after your surgery. On average, gastric bypass results in about 40 percent loss in the first year and 55 percent in the second year.

Many people who have lost a significant amount of weight with Lap-Band or other forms of bariatric surgery find that they are left with a fat hangover or flab. Additional post-bariatric body contour surgery - such as an arm lift, thigh lift, panniculectomy, lower back belt or lower body lift - may be required on the road.

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