Lap Band - The Surgery Itself
Lap band surgery is designed to help people lose weight by reducing the amount of food that is consumed. The surgery is performed under general anesthesia with the patient unconscious. The procedure is done with the use of a small camera inserted into the belly through one of several small incisions the surgeon makes in the abdomen.
With the use of the camera and small, thin surgical tools, the surgeon installs the band around the upper part of the stomach, creating a small pouch to hold the food you ingest. This is done without having to resect, cut or staple any part of the stomach or digestive tract. This makes lap band surgery among the least invasive weight loss surgeries available. As a result, patients generally recover more quickly and experience fewer complications.
After surgery, the pouch will only hold about one ounce of food. You’ll have a smaller appetite and will ingest less food, resulting in gradual, sustainable weight loss. The band is adjustable, and your lap band doctor will monitor your progress and make adjustments as needed after the initial procedure. Because the stomach needs to recover from the procedure, the first adjustment is usually made about six weeks after the initial surgery.
Lap band surgery is fully reversible. The operation usually takes between 30 minutes to an hour, and most patients stay in the hospital overnight as a precautionary measure.
Lap Band Surgery Video Animation: