• Adjustments
• Get into "The Green Zone"

Adjustments

Being able to adjust the LAP-BAND^® Adjustable Gastric Banding System gives you and your surgeon control over your weight loss progress. If the LAP-BAND^® is too tight, your surgeon can loosen it by taking out some of the fluid. If the LAP-BAND^® is too loose, your surgeon can tighten it by injecting fluid into your access port. Only a clinician trained and authorized by Allergan can adjust your LAP-BAND^® System. Never let an untrained clinician or a non-medical person do it, and never try to adjust your own LAP-BAND^® System. You could cause bad reactions or damage your LAP-BAND^® device.

LAP-BAND^® System adjustment animation

Click here to view the LAP-BAND^® System adjustment animation.

When the LAP-BAND^® Adjustable Gastric Banding System is first placed, your surgeon usually leaves it empty or only partially inflated. This gives your body the chance to get accustomed to your LAP-BAND^® System during the first few weeks after surgery. It also allows healing to occur around the new LAP-BAND^® System site. It's critical during this time to avoid vomiting and/or putting any pressure on your new small stomach above the band. The first time the LAP-BAND^® System is adjusted is usually four to six weeks after surgery, although the exact time will vary from patient to patient. During the first year, most patients get between five and eight adjustments. Sometimes, small adjustments are made over the years. During each adjustment, a very small amount of saline will be added to or removed from the LAP-BAND^® System.

You may feel a pricking sensation during an adjustment, as the surgeon will use a fine needle to inject or withdraw fluid from your access port, which is located under your skin. The feeling is similar to the pinprick you feel when you give blood. Sterile saline is used to adjust the LAP-BAND^® System. Saline is a type of salt water, just like your body's natural fluid, similar to tears.

Adjustments are done either in the surgeon's office or hospital using a palpation method (simply pressing down on the skin to locate the access port) or via X-ray equipment (fluoroscopy). The surgeon may also use fluoroscopy to guide the needle into the port or to evaluate your pouch size and stoma size after the adjustment. As you take a drink of a special liquid (usually called barium), your surgeon will be able to watch it travel down your esophagus into the small upper stomach pouch, through your stoma, and into your big lower stomach.

To get the best results, you may need more than one adjustment. The most common reasons for adjustments are not being able to eat without feeling uncomfortable or vomiting, being able to eat too much without feeling full, or not losing weight.

Get into "The Green Zone"

The LAP-BAND^® System Journey is different for each person and the exact amount of fluid required to make the new stomach opening the right size is unique. An ideal "fill" level should be just tight enough to let you gradually lose weight. That means you should still be able to eat enough to get the nutrients that you need, while still reducing the overall amount you can actually eat.