Weight Loss Surgery Program
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Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding
Commonly referred to as lap banding, this procedure involves the surgeon placing an adjustable band around the upper or top part of the stomach. The band divides the stomach into two portions — one small and one larger portion. Food digestion occurs through the normal digestive process, but most patients feel full faster.
Advantages of lap banding:
- Least invasive way to use surgery to reduce the amount of food your stomach can hold.
- This procedure restricts the amount of food that can be eaten at a meal.
- The food passes through the digestive tract in the usual manner, allowing it to be fully absorbed into the body.
- The band can be adjusted to increase or decrease restriction.
- The surgery can be reversed.
Lap banding may be suitable for patients who are 80 to 100 pounds overweight, but they must be very disciplined in what and how much they eat. Unlike gastric bypass, this approach doesn't curb the appetite, plus sweets, ice cream and high-calorie liquids can be easily eaten.