Premier Bariatric Associates

The Laparoscopic Band, or LAP-BAND® System, is a minimally-invasive, safe, adjustable and reversible surgical weight loss tool. Placed around the upper part of the stomach, the LAP-BAND® System Adjustable Gastric Band acts as a belt that slows the passage of food through the digestive system. This controls hunger and allows you to feel full sooner, aiding weight loss by both restricting the quantity of food digested at one time and creating mental stimulants that tell your body when to stop eating.

While the quantity of food consumed is still under the control of the individual, Lap-Band surgery is intended to gradually adjust your body to a new pattern of eating -- expanding or contracting around the upper part of the stomach -- regulating the flow of food.

The band is connected by tubing to an access port that is placed just beneath the skin during surgery. Later the surgeon can change the amount of constriction by adding or subtracting saline through the access port. This saline is the "key" that adjusts the size of the band. If a band is too loose and weight loss inadequate, adding saline constricts the band to further restrict the amount of food allowed to move through the digestive system. On the other hand, if the band is too tight, saline can be removed to reduce the amount of restriction.

The LAP-BAND® System is placed using a laparoscopic technique. Operative times range from 45 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes, which means minimal anesthetic and minimal trauma to the body. Some of our patients can be discharged the day of surgery, and the remainder following a period of observation usually under 24 hours. Recovery is rapid with most patients returning to normal activities (including driving and work) within 3-7 days. Follow-up visits in the office for adjustments of the band (fills) with saline under local anesthesia take about 15-20 minutes and occur roughly at 6-8 week intervals, post-op.