LAP-BAND® procedure overview
| LAP-BAND® procedure, or Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding (LAGB) as it is sometimes known, is a simple twenty minute procedure conducted by a skilled surgeon in a day surgery clinic where an adjustable ‘restrictive band’ is placed around the top of the stomach. This ‘adjustable gastric band’ works by reducing the amount of food that can be eaten in a sitting & by helping you feel ‘full’ more quickly. Ultimately, you feel more satisfied more quickly & the urge to overeat is removed. |  |
What are the advantages of the LAP-BAND® System?
The LAP-BAND® System is the world's leading gastric band and has many advantages over other types of bariatric procedure & it has been the option of choice for over 60,000 people in Australia and 650,000 people around the world.
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Advantages over other types of bariatric surgery:
- The LAP-BAND® System is adjustable & reversible
- The surgery is performed through small incisions & with long-shafted instruments
- There are no major cuts to the abdomen
- The gastric band, like a belt, is fastened around the top of the stomach
- Unlike other bariatric surgery, the stomach & intestines are not cut or re-routed
- The band presses on the stomach creating sensations of fullness. The band can be adjusted to increase or decrease hunger sensations
- Only small amounts of food can be eaten at once because of the tiny pouch above the band
- Even though weight loss surgery patients often have many other serious illnesses, the comparable risk is about the same as for a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal)
Are there any risks with the LAP-BAND® System?
As with any surgical procedure there are risks however most patients are in hospital for one or two nights & are well recovered by the end of week one.
Complications are the same as for any surgery & include:
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Wound complications
- Clots in leg veins
Depending on the other illnesses you may have at the time of surgery, anaesthetic risks can vary, so particular attention is paid to the pre-operative assessment & during the surgical period to ensure that any potential complications are minimised.
If you suffer from sleep apnoea or have breathing difficulties of any sort you may be asked to undergo a sleep study prior to surgery & have a special treatment regime established.
There are some specific complications peculiar to the LAP-BAND®. These are uncommon but may require repeat surgery. They include:
- Erosion of the band (breaking down of the band)
- Prolapse of the band (where the band slips down)
- Port infection (skin infection where the tubing exits the body)
- Device failure (such as a tubing fracture)