Gastric band or LAP-BAND Surgery

The bariatric surgical team of Dr. Jason Balette, Dr. Drew Howard, and Dr. Brad Waggoner spend quality time with each patient to help them determine which bariatric surgery is the best solution for their weight loss surgery.  Our staff is experienced in all types of weight loss surgeries and the gastric band or LAP-BAND, as it is referred to is a popular solution for many patients.

An adjustable band is placed around the stomach that essentially creates a small stomach pouch. As you eat, food will fill the small stomach pouch quickly, making you feel full much sooner and reducing the amount of food you eat.

This weight loss surgery procedure also increases the time it takes for the stomach to empty, making you feel full longer and reducing the sensation of hunger. The band can be adjusted (made tighter or smaller) by filling it with saline through a port located just underneath the skin. The concept is to create anatomy that provides a sensation of “fullness” after a small meal.

The device consists of a band, connection tubing, and a plastic access port. As the band is filled with saline, the balloon expands and the stomach outlet gets smaller, making it harder for food to pass. After placement of the band around the top of the stomach, the band tubing is connected to a small plastic access port, which is placed under the skin. The access port is used to add or remove fluid from the band.

Weight loss for gastric banding is generally less and slower than for Gastric Sleeve or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. On average, 45-55% of a patient’s excess weight will be lost over a period of two years. Follow-up clinic appointments for gastric band adjustments and evaluations are extremely important for weight loss success. Dedication to exercise, behavior modification, and proper food choices is absolutely necessary to help achieve optimal results.