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What to expect from the Lap-Band® System

February 6, 2020

Are you hoping to transform your life? Do you feel like you’ve tried everything and just can’t lose the weight or keep it off? The Lap-Band® System is the tool you need to make that important life change. It’ll help you feel better both physically and emotionally, and help you gain confidence, self-esteem, and empowerment. 

The Lap-Band is a minimally-invasive, non-anatomy altering procedure which places a band around the upper portion of your stomach. The band creates a smaller stomach above it, and leaves the stomach below intact. The smaller stomach opening leaves you feeling fuller quicker and longer. Unlike other weight-loss procedures, there is no cutting and no rerouting of your intestines. The band reduces the amount of food you can eat in one sitting, allowing you to gradually lose weight and keep it off for the long-term. And because the procedure is completed laparoscopically with just a couple small incisions, you can begin your recovery immediately. Many patients go home the same day as their procedure.

Typically, the band is gradually adjusted, leading to gradual weight loss and ideal hunger control. The first adjustment is recommended at six or more weeks after the procedure. Your surgeon adjusts the band by adding or removing saline through the port under your skin, which is attached to the band. Because the band is adjustable and is reversible, it makes it a standout option in comparison to anatomy-altering weight-loss surgeries. You’ll learn to control your portion sizes and manage your weight with healthy behaviors, as the Lap-Band helps you throughout the journey.

On average, Lap-Band Patients lose between 40% and 50% of their weight after only one year. Weight loss can reduce the occurrence or severity of weight-related diseases, such as asthma, hypertension, diabetes, sleep apnea, and GERD. On top of that, the procedure is safer than other weight loss surgeries.

Of course, as with any weight loss procedure, there are some cons. The risks are small, but because a foreign device is in the body, there is risk of slippage or band erosion, as well as mechanical issues. If a patient with the Lap-Band significantly overeats time and time again, there is the risk in dilation of the esophagus. All of these risks lead to the potential to re-operate.* While there are slight disadvantages to the Lap-Band, the procedure offers lower risks than other weight-loss procedures, such as Gastric Bypass surgery.

To see if the Lap-Band procedure is right for you, call 1-800-LAPBAND.

*See Lap-Band DFU for full list of complications.

Sources:

  • https://www.www.lapband.com/
  • https://asmbs.org/patients/bariatric-surgery-procedures
  • Dixon John, O’Brien Paul. Health Outcomes of Severly Obese Type 2 Diabetic Subjects 1 Year After Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding. Diabetes Care, Volume 25, Number 2. February 2002.
  • Dixon John, Schachter Linda, O’Brien Paul. Sleep Disturbance and Obesity: Cahnges Following Surgically Induced Weight Loss. Arch Intern Med/Vol 161. Jan 8 2001.
  • Dixon John, O’Brien Paul. Gastroesophageal Reflux in Obesity: The Effect of LAP-BAND® Placement. Obesity Surgery 1999.

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Important Lap-Band® System Safety Information

The ReShape Lap-Band Systems are approved for adults with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or higher, or a BMI of at least 30 with health conditions related to obesity, who have not seen success with other weight loss methods, like supervised diet, exercise, and behavior modification programs. Choosing this surgery means committing to changes in eating habits for the long term.

The Lap-Band procedure is not approved for individuals under 18 yo, those with conditions that may make them poor surgical candidates or lead to poor results, such as inflammatory or cardiopulmonary diseases, problems with the stomach and digestion, symptoms or family history of autoimmune disease, scarring of the liver, individuals unable or unwilling to follow the necessary dietary restrictions, individuals with alcohol or drug addictions, or those currently pregnant. Individuals who become pregnant after band placement may require deflation of their bands.

The ReShape Lap-Band Systems, a long-term tool, may need to be adjusted if you get pregnant, sick, or malnourished. Be careful with anti-inflammatory drugs as they could make the band wear away. Like any surgery, placement of the Lap-Band may have complications such as risks from drugs and methods used, general surgery risks, how well your body handles a foreign object, or in rare cases, risk of death.

As with any surgical procedure, there are risks associated with metabolic and bariatric surgery that you and your doctor should discuss. Potential risks associated with the Lap-Band include nausea, vomiting, heartburn, stomach blockage, constipation, swallowing difficulty, diarrhea, abnormal stools, abdominal pain, weakness, incision pain, infection, fever, hernia, chest pain, band movement, stomach pouch expansion, unusual healing, pain at the port site, port movement, and/or hair loss. Additional surgery might be needed. Losing weight quickly could lead to complications requiring more surgery. 

Talk to your doctor, and/or visit our website at https://www.lapband.com/product-info for more information on its benefits and risks.

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