The adjustable gastric band, or Lap Band, is an inflatable silicone
prosthetic device which is placed around the top portion of the stomach via keyhole laparoscopic surgery.
By creating a smaller gastric pouch, the gastric band limits the amount of food that the stomach will hold
at any time. The inflatable ring controls the flow of food from this smaller pouch to the rest of the digestive
tract. The patient will feel comfortably full with a small amount of food. And because of the slow emptying,
the patient will continue to feel full for several hours reducing the urge to eat between meals.
The band is inflated/adjusted via a small access port placed just under the skin. Saline solution is introduced into
the band via the port. A specialized needle is used to avoid damage to the port membrane. When fluid is introduced the band
expands, placing pressure around the outside of the stomach. This decreases the
size of the passage in the stomach and restricts the movement of food.
Over a period of time, restriction is increased until patients feel they have reached a "sweet spot" where optimal weight
loss can be reached with the minimal fluid required. This is an individual experience and timing cannot be predicted.
Types of Gastric Bands
At the Obesity Control Center, we use two types of bands that have both been approved by the FDA.
