If you’re thinking about undergoing weight loss surgery, it’s not only an important medical decision but a significant financial decision too. Lap band surgery or adjustable gastric band procedure is usually used in dire circumstances and is performed with laparoscopic instruments, which means the surgery is minimally invasive and has a short time for recovery. The American company, INAMED Health, designed the BioEnterics LAP-BAND Adjustable Gastric Banding System, which was first introduced in Europe back in 1993.

Gastric banding, including the Lap Band procedure and weight loss system is usually indicated for people whose Body Mass Index is above 40. Or for those people who are 100 pounds (45 kg) or more over their estimated ideal weight according to the 1983 Metropolitan Life Insurance Tables (still used today). Or for those people between 30 to 40 who have co-morbidities (high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, arthritis), which may improve with weight loss. Those who are eligible to have it must be between ages 18 and 55 years, although there are doctors who will perform surgery outside these ages, some may be as young as 12. It should not be performed when severe cardiopulmonary diseases or other conditions are present, which make them poor candidates.

Inflammatory diseases of the g. i. tract like ulcers, esophagitis or Crohn’s disease don’t make a person a good candidate. In order to be considered one must have a good comprehension of the risks and benefits of the procedure and have a willingness to comply with the substantial lifelong dietary restrictions that are required for long term success.

Unlike people who have procedures such as the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, duodenal switch or biliopancreatic diversion surgery, it’s unusual for gastric band patients to experience any nutritional deficiencies or malabsorption of their micro-nutrients. So as the upper part of the stomach perceives that it’s full, the message to the brain is that the stomach is full and this sensation is what helps the person eat smaller portions and lose weight over time. Calcium supplements and Vitamin B12 injections are not usually required as they are with the Roux-en-Y and other types.

The adjustable gastric band or Lap Band is an inflatable silicone prosthetic device which is placed around the uppermost section of the stomach using the preferred keyhole laparoscopic surgery. The placement of the band creates a small pouch right at the top of the stomach which holds about 50 ml. The pouch ‘fills’ with food quickly and the passage of food from the top to the bottom of the stomach is quite slowed down. This surgery, unlike the traditional malabsorptive weight loss type (Roux-en-Y, biliopancreatic and duodenal switch) doesn’t cut out or remove any part of the digestive system.

After surgery the patient should eat less, eat more slowly and chew food thoroughly. Initial weight loss is slower than with Roux-en-Y but statistics show that over five years the weight loss outcome is pretty much similar. Some patients may find that before their first ‘fill’ they’re still able to eat large portions.

The band may remain deflated during pregnancy and once breast feeding or bottle-feeding is completed it may gradually be re-inflated to help with postpartum weight loss if necessary. Many physicians make the first adjustment between six to eight weeks following surgery to allow the stomach adequate time to heal. Then after that the fills are done as needed.

A common occurrence for patients is regurgitation of swallowed – acidic food from the upper pouch, which is commonly known as productive burping and is not normal. Other complications include ulceration and irritated stomach tissue.

On occasion, the narrow passage into the lower part of the stomach may become blocked by a large portion of food that is unchewed. Mechanical malfunctions can occur including port leakage, some cracking of the kink-resistant tubing or disruption of the tubing connection from the port to the band, pain at the port site and port displacement.

Lap band surgery and gastric banding if compared to other weight loss surgeries have shown a much lower mortality rate, the stomach returning to normal if the band is removed, there’s no cutting or stapling of the stomach, the band is adjustable without additional surgery and there are no malabsorption issues because no intestines are bypassed. There are also fewer life threatening complications. And the psychological effects of any weight loss procedure also should not be ignored. Be aware that some people have died undergoing this surgery.

The LAP-BAND System originally received its approval from the FDA for use in the US back in June of 2001. The lap band surgery or adjustable gastric band procedure is used in serious desperate situations and is performed with laparoscopic instruments. This means the surgery is minimally invasive with a very short recovery time. Adjustable gastric banding, including the Lap Band system, is a form of restrictive weight loss surgery designed for obesity patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more or between 35 and 40 for those who have conditions that are medically known to improve with weight loss.

Allergic reactions to materials in the band or pain intolerance to implanted devices are both contraindications for having lap band surgery. Those who are eligible are those between ages 18 and 55 years, although there are doctors who will work outside these ages, some can be as young as 12. The surgery is not a good idea when severe cardiopulmonary diseases or other conditions exist which make them poor surgical candidates.

A prospective surgical patient must be a good operative risk. The lap band surgery is usually not performed if the patient has an untreated glandular disease such as hypothyroidism – low thyroid, where other measures may still be used.

The placement of the adjustable gastric band makes a small pouch at the very top of the stomach which holds approximately 50 ml. This pouch ‘fills’ up with food quickly and the passage of food from the top to the bottom of the stomach is slowed down. The port membrane may be sutured neatly in place. The band is inflated and adjusted by way of a small access port placed just under the skin (subcutaneously). Then radiopaque isotonic solution or saline is introduced into the band by way of the port.

The adjustable gastric band or Lap Band is an inflatable silicone prosthetic apparatus which is placed around the top portion of the stomach using the finite keyhole laparoscopic surgery. Lap band or gastric band placement, which is unlike the traditional malabsorptive weight loss surgery (these are Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, biliopancreatic and the duodenal switch) does not cut into or remove any part of the digestive system. The reported gastric dumping syndrome issues or problems do not happen in lap band surgeries because none of the intestines are removed, cut out or re-routed.

Following surgery the patient should think about eating less, eating more slowly and chewing food thoroughly. Some of the patients may find that that before their first fill they’re able to eat fairly large portions. Following surgery the initial weight loss in gastric banding is a little slower than with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery but statistics show that during a five-year-period the weight loss results are similar.

Regaining weight can happen with any surgical weight loss procedure and that includes the radical procedures that result in a rapid weight loss in the beginning. The amount of weight that is lost the months following surgery depends on the patient and their personal situation, their motivation, and their mobility.

Other possible complications of gastric band surgery include the ulceration of and irritated stomach tissue. And erosion can occur, that is where the band may wear on a small area on the outside of the stomach. And this can lead to the migration of the band to the inside of the stomach.

For some of the adjustable gastric band surgery complications involving the band itself and port, they include: some band slippage, possible pouch dilation, esophageal dilatation or some dysmotility and possible erosion of the band into the gastric lumen for example. A real common occurrence for lap band patients is the regurgitation of some non-acidic swallowed food from the upper pouch, which is commonly called productive burping and is not normal.

If you are considering lap band surgery it is critical that you find a weight loss team with a good post-surgical plan because recommendations can vary drastically. Some post-surgical weight loss surgery teams offer good support groups, but some of them mix gastric bypass surgery patients with gastric banding patients and you want to find a support group for gastric banding patients only. Many patients have chosen to travel to other countries for low cost lap band surgery and there are many countries now including Mexico that are offering lap band or adjustable gastric banding surgeries

If you’ve been thinking about lap band surgery or gastric banding or adjustable gastric banding then the following facts may help you decide whether or not it would be the best weight loss solution for you. Generally candidates for this surgery have failed on many diets and may or may not have significant co-morbidities and need to take a more drastic approach or risk serious health consequences or problems that would shorten their life.

The lap band system for weight loss surgery is much better known in parts of the world other than the United States. In the US, other types of weight loss surgeries have been performed more so than lap band surgery. There have been more than 220,000 lap band surgeries performed in all countries combined and it is rapidly becoming more popular in the United States.

The lap band surgery has numerous advantages over other weight loss or obesity surgeries. It’s the least invasive of the weight loss surgeries with no intestinal re-routing, thus very little trauma to obesity surgeries. Small and keyhole incisions are made so there is very little scarring. Because of these techniques there is a much reduced amount of pain for the patient and the hospital stay and recovery time are very much shortened.

There are much fewer risks, side effects and complications and a much lower mortality rate compared to other weight loss surgeries. With gastric bypass surgeries there is a bigger risk of having nutritional deficiencies and often vitamin b12 injections have to be given. Also with other obesity surgeries there are dietary intake restrictions that are related to the “dumping syndrome.”

Because the band is adjustable the surgeon can decide just how much to tighten it to help with the longer term weight loss rate for the patient. These adjustments are done without having to have any additional surgery. For pregnant patients the stomach outlet is opened wider for the ever increasing nutritional requirements.

The lap band is removable at any time that the patient wishes. The stomach and other parts of the body that are involved are usually restored to their original state and function.

Compared to gastric bypass surgery, recent studies have shown a significant improvement in diabetes and high blood pressure is usually reduced, helping return the patient to a better state of health.

The lap band system can be an effective long-term weight loss surgery for most obesity patients. It’s reported that more than 55% of the excess weight loss is maintained for five years at least after the surgery.

So if you’re considering lap band surgery, there is a criterion that must apply or qualify you for the surgery also. Make sure to see a bariatric surgeon to get an explanation of the procedure and be aware of all the risks and complications that you may encounter. Check to see if you health insurance plan covers it. Some people travel to other countries for the surgery because it’s not covered under their health insurance plans in the United States.