Lap band surgery

Lap band surgery is a type of weight loss surgery. The procedure limits the amount of food you can eat and helps you feel fuller with less food.

At Atrium Health Floyd and Harbin Clinic, our bariatric surgeons work with you to help you decide if lap band surgery is the right weight loss solution. Our care includes pre-surgery education, counseling and ongoing support after surgery to help you reach your goals.

What is lap band surgery?

Lap band surgery (also called adjustable gastric band surgery) is a procedure focused on helping you lose a significant amount of weight and keep it off. Lap band surgery is also called adjustable gastric band surgery and is one of many bariatrics (weight loss) surgeries.

A gastric band is an adjustable silicone band. During surgery, your doctor places the band around the upper part of your stomach. This separates the stomach into two sections – a small upper portion and larger lower one. You’re now limited in how much you can comfortably eat and will feel fuller more quickly.

After lap band surgery, you can expect to lose 50-60% of your excess weight. That is less of a loss than with other types of bariatric surgery. Weight loss with a gastric band is also slower. It can take two to three years to reach your goal weight.

Lap band surgery is the only weight loss procedure that is adjustable – or even reversible. During surgery, doctors install a small port under your skin connected to the band. By adding or removing saline to the band through the port, they can adjust how restrictive it is. For example, you might want it loosened (less restrictive) after you’ve achieved your weight loss goals.

Removing the band completely is also possible, but you could expect to gain back much of the weight you lost.

Other types of weight loss surgery

Lap band surgery is a popular type of weight loss surgery. But it isn’t the only option. Depending on your condition and goals, your doctor may recommend a different type of bariatric surgery. Options include:

• Gastric bypass surgery: During this procedure, the surgeon makes a small stomach pouch and connects it to the small bowel. Food is now rerouted around most of the stomach. This results in changes that can reduce your feelings of hunger and help you feel fuller faster. People who have gastric bypass lose an average of about 70% of their excess weight.
• Sleeve gastrectomy: During this procedure, surgeons remove about 75% of the stomach and reshape the remainder into a sleeve about the size of a banana. This newly formed sleeve can hold only a small amount of food. After this procedure, people lose an average of 60-70% of their excess weight.

Conditions treated with lap band surgery

Lap band surgery can help you lose a large percentage of your excess weight. You’ll also need to follow a restrictive, nutrient-rich diet and commit to exercising regularly.

These changes can help improve your overall health. A healthier lifestyle combined with weight loss will also have a significant effect on obesity-related conditions, including:

• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Sleep apnea

Lap band surgery side effects

Lap band surgery is performed using minimally invasive, laparoscopic techniques. It is the least invasive type of weight loss surgery. It does not involve removing, stapling or rerouting any part of the stomach or intestines.

Most people can return home within 24 hours of surgery. The risk of complications is much lower than with more extensive types of bariatric surgery. But there are still some complications specific to gastric bands, including:

• Band obstruction or erosion through the stomach (the band would then need to be removed)
• Band slipping
• Infection at the port
• Injury to the stomach during surgery
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Port disconnecting due to kinking or puncture of the tube attached to the band
• Vomiting if you eat more than the stomach can now hold

As you recover from surgery, your care team will work with you to learn how to eat a healthy diet, increase nutrient intake and reduce other complications.