LAP-BAND® SURGERY

About LAP-BAND® Surgery

LAP-BAND® surgery involves implanting an adjustable gastric band designed to help you lose weight, improve weight-related health conditions and enhance quality of life. It reduces the stomach capacity and the amount of food that can be consumed at one time. The LAP-BAND® is a silicone ring designed to be placed around the upper part of the stomach. This ring is adjustable through a port under the surface of the skin which is connected to a balloon encircling the inner surface of the silicone ring. Sterile saline is introduced through the port by a provider in our clinic in an outpatient setting, thereby reducing the diameter of the stomach opening. This procedure creates a new, smaller stomach pouch that can only hold a small amount of food, and you feel full sooner. As a result, you will eat less and lose weight.

What is Minimally invasive or Laparoscopic Surgery?

This is a type of surgery that uses small incisions which long skinny instruments and a video camera are passed to do operations that used to be done through large (open) incisions.  We view this as major surgery through minor holes.  Because the incisions are so small, you will have less pain, barely noticeable scars, and return to normal activities more quickly.  The operations are usually less than an hour and you will go home the same day.

How do surgeons learn to do this?

Most surgeons get training in the basic aspects of laparoscopic surgery during their residency.  Residency is a period of training that lasts from 4-6 years following medical school depending on the surgical discipline.  Our surgeons trained for 5 years in residency.

Our surgeons also completed an additional year of intense, highly advanced training called a Minimally Invasive Surgery Fellowship.  Both were trained at the Texas Endosurgery Institute where many of the current laparoscopic surgical procedures were developed.  Both of our surgeons have been involved in teaching hundreds of other surgeons both nationally and internationally and have published several papers in the field.  They have been doing advanced Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery since the turn of the century.

Additionally, both of our surgeons graduated from medical school with Alpha Omega Alpha Honors – and esteemed recognition granted to only the top 3% of each medical school class.

Weight Loss after Lap-Bands® Surgery

Those who pursue laparoscopic Lap-Band® surgery on average report a loss of 40% of excess weight on average in the first year.

Ongoing success is a combination of multiple factors including routine follow-up visits with your care team, monthly support groups, diet and exercise changes, and mental health care.

Please speak with your surgeon at your consult about your specific expected outcomes.

Advantages of Lap-Band® Surgery

• Minimal trauma.
• Least invasive surgical option.
• No intestinal re-routing.
• No cutting or stapling of the stomach or intestine.
• Small incisions and minimal scarring.
• Reduced pain and shorter recovery.
• No dumping syndrome; (dumping syndrome is associated with the gastric bypass).
• Outpatient procedure.
• Reversible procedure.

Ongoing Maintenance after Lap-Bands® Surgery

Those who have a Lap-Band® in place will require ongoing follow-up and maintenance to maintain the optimal function of the lap-band in aiding your weight-loss journey.

If you currently have a Lap-Band®, whether placed at our facility or elsewhere, please do not hesitate to reach out regarding management of your band or to discuss other options for continued success.