Center for Bariatric Surgery

Surgical Options

Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding, or Lap Banding, Surgery

The surgical procedure that each patient will undergo is carefully determined through a one-on-one consultation with the surgeon. This determination is based on specific health and safety criteria, including body mass index (BMI), associated medical conditions, prior history of abdominal surgery and other variables that determine the best outcome for each individual patient.

The Lap Band Procedure
Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, or lap banding, is a minimally invasive procedure that involves the placement of a silicone band around the upper portion of the stomach to create a small pouch. The procedure is performed with a small video camera that is inserted inside the abdomen through a series of small incisions. Once in place, the lap band restricts the amount of food patients are able to consume, causing them to feel full more quickly.

Periodic adjustments to the band are necessary throughout the weight loss process and can be done through brief office visits; the band also is removable. Lap banding generally requires an overnight hospital stay and patients typically return to work in one week.

The Lap Band procedure features:

• Procedure performed by a fellowship-trained laparoscopic bariatric surgeon assisted by a second bariatric surgeon, and a team of anesthesiologists and nurses dedicated to laparoscopic bariatric surgery.
• Average hospital stay of one day
• Average recovery time of one to three weeks
• Low risk for wound-related problems
• Minimal scar tissue formation
• Average operating and anesthesia time of 60 to 90 minutes

As with any surgery, there are risks associated with surgical weight loss. Patients must completely understand the procedure, required behaviors related to nutrition and physical activity, and the benefits and the risks prior to proceeding with any surgical weight loss option.

Why Consider the Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band?
Based on recently released national and international studies of the laparoscopic adjustable gastric band, combined with strict guidelines and criteria for patient selection, and long-term follow-up care, St. Vincent Charity Hospital believes that laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding is now a safe and effective surgical weight loss option for patients.

The CBS uses the LAP-BAND® System (INAMED Health), which the FDA approved for use as a weight loss tool in June 2001. Nearly 120,000 lap bands have successfully been placed with outcomes, complications and long-term weight loss experiences similar to those of gastric bypass surgery.

Why Choose the Center for Bariatric Surgery For Lap Band Procedures?
The Center for Bariatric Surgery team is qualified to offer laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding based on:

• Specialized training in lap banding
• Advanced laparoscopic surgery skills
• Experience in helping more than 5,000 patients lose weight through gastric bypass surgery
• Commitment to long-term relationships with patients following surgery

These are essential tenets of the CBS program and are critical to helping morbidly obese patients achieve long-term weight loss.