About LAP-BAND Surgery
LAP-BAND surgery, also called gastric banding, is a type of weight-loss surgery procedure used to decrease the size of the stomach. People who have the surgery can expect to lose as much as 40 percent to 50 percent of their excess weight within two years, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Weight loss surgery is an option if you are significantly overweight and have been unable to lose weight through diet and exercise. Men who weigh 100 lbs. or more over their ideal weight and women who weigh 80 lbs. or more over their ideal weight are candidates for the surgery, according to MedLine Plus.
Before Surgery
Before being approved for LAP-BAND surgery, you may be required to undergo several medical tests to ensure that you're healthy enough for surgery. You'll also meet with a dietician and a psychologist or psychiatrist to ensure that you understand how the surgery will change your life and your eating habits. In some cases, people who don't meet the weight requirements can still have the surgery if they have a serious condition affected by excess weight, such as diabetes or heart disease. Your doctor will make this determination, depending on your condition and the state of your health.
The Procedure
Minimally invasive laparascopic surgery is usually the method used to perform the LAP-BAND surgery. Before the surgery begins, your doctor cuts three smalls slits in your abdomen. A thin, flexible tube containing a tiny camera is passed through one of the slits. The camera allows your doctor to view your stomach on a video monitor. The other slits are used to accommodate surgical instruments. If complications occur, your doctor may have to revert to an open surgical procedure to finish the surgery. LAP-BAND surgery is performed under general anesthesia and may take up to 1 1/2 hours to complete.
Band Placement
During the procedure, the doctor inserts the silicone band through one of the openings in your abdomen and places it around the upper part of your stomach, forming a small pouch that will hold the food you eat. A port is attached to the band and placed under the skin in the abdominal wall. By adjusting the amount of saline solution in the port, your doctor is able to make adjustments to your gastric band based on your weight loss progress. The band is put in place uninflated or partially inflated during surgery and is completely inflated approximately six weeks following surgery.
Recovery
While your stomach pouch heals, the foods you can eat will be limited. You'll initially be limited to a liquid diet for the first weeks after surgery, before advancing to pureed foods. Once you can handle these foods, you're able to eat soft foods and may progress to eating solid food by six weeks after surgery. At the six-week stage, your band will be completely inflated, allowing for maximum weight loss. Your doctor will inflate the LAP-BAND by passing a needle filled with sterile saline fluid through your skin into the port. An X-ray machine may be used to help your doctor find the precise location of the port. The same method can be used to withdraw saline fluid if the port is too tight.
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