What is Lap Band?
Lapband or Lap-Band is the commonly used short name for laparoscopic adjustable gastric band – a device or method used to treat obesity or use as a weight loss method. The band is actually made up an inflatable silicone device that is placed on the upper portion of the stomach. The idea is to restrict food intake while enabling the absorption of nutrients and still allowing digestion to take place in the stomach. To achieve this, the patient must go through a laparascopic surgery which is a minimal-invasive kind of surgery. This means that the lap-band device can be implanted through a tiny incision in the patient’s abdomen, therefore avoiding the need for open surgery which requires longer recovery.
Lap Band Diagram
The Advantages / Good Points of Lap-Band Surgery
- The Lap-Band device was approved by FDA since 2001.
- Does not require stomach stapling or cutting and no intestinal rerouting (like the Roux-en-Y)
- Very low malnutrition or indigestion risk because digestion can remain normal
- The Lap-Band is completely adjustable and removable.
- Lap-Band uses the least invasive surgical approach or Laparascopic Bariatric Surgery
- Because of its wide acceptance, the cost of Lap-Band surgery is getting lower everyday
The Disadvantages / Bad Points of Lap-Band Surgery
- The initial weight loss is slower compared gastric bypass surgery / Roux-en-Y surgery
- Possible band slippage or erosion
- Possible problems with the esophagus
- Food high in sugar or calories will be digested
