Lap Band Surgery

What is LAP Band Surgery?

A Lap Band Surgery is a type of bariatric surgical procedure. The surgery involves the placement of a silicone band referred to as the ‘Lap-Band’ (an adjustable, inflatable tube made of soft silicone) around the upper portion of the patient’s stomach to create a ring. It is adjustable and reversible. The surgery aims to reduce stomach capacity and slow down food passage through the stomach. The procedure makes the patient eat less.

Types of Bariatric Surgeries

Gastric Sleeve

Also known as ‘Sleeve Gastrectomy,’ the surgeon removes a large portion of a patient’s stomach to leave just a small banana-shaped section. The surgery reduces the stomach’s ability to accommodate food, making the patient feel full sooner. This procedure is irreversible because a part of the stomach is permanently removed.

Gastric Bypass

The surgery is also known as ‘Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass. It involves three steps:

1. Stapling of the stomach to create a small pouch in the upper section.
2. Division of the small intestine into two parts and attaching the lower part to the small stomach pouch.
3. Reattachment of the upper part of the small intestine to a new location beyond the lower part of the small intestine.

Adjustable Gastric Band

The surgery involves the placement of a ring with an inner inflatable band around the top part of the stomach to make a small pouch. The goal is to make the patient feel full after eating a small amount of food.

The inner band comprises of a circular balloon inside filled with saline solution. The surgeon adjusts the inner band when needed to adjust the size of the opening from the pouch to the rest of the stomach. Follow-up visits are needed for the patient to adjust the size of the band opening.

Success Rate of Lap Band Surgery

Individuals suffering from health conditions associated with obesity are good candidates for Lap Band Surgery (especially if all other weight loss methods fail to produce results).

When compared to other bariatric procedures, the gastric band is known to have the least complication rate after surgery. Lap-Band can, however, lead to less weight loss than other bariatric procedures. The procedure requires frequent follow-up office visits and adjustments during the first year.

Other bariatric surgery procedures, such as sleeve gastrectomy and roux-en-Y gastric bypass, are more commonly used. In 2019, the rate of gastric band surgery was assessed to be around 0.9% of all bariatric procedures performed worldwide.

The success rate of this surgery includes numerous key parameters, including a safe surgery. It has a shallow mortality rate (0.1%). In about 26% of the cases, patients have observed complications right after the procedure. These complications include:

• Band-related issues
• Bowel function changes
• Blood clots
• Esophageal dilation
• Bowel perforations
• Gallstones
• Food trapping
• Indigestion (Dyspepsia)
• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
• Hiatal hernia
• Nausea
• Pneumonia
• Food intolerance
• Pouch dilation
• Vomiting
• Port issues

Regardless of numerous potential side effects, the success rate of surgery exceeds the number of ineffective surgeries. The proven success and minimally invasive nature of this procedure, and being completely reversible, makes it an attractive option for patients compared to other weight loss surgeries (sleeve gastrectomy). Surgical complications of Lap-Band are less dangerous.

Risks Associated with Laparoscopic Band Surgery

• Nausea and Vomiting during the early days after the surgery
• Band intolerance
• Constipation
• Difficulty swallowing
• Esophageal dilation and/or pouch dilation
• Band slippage
• Gastroesophageal reflux
• Band erosion
• Port-related issues (dislodging from its original location, flipping upside down, leakage, and infections at the port)
• Outlet obstruction

Before, During, and After Laparoscopic Band Surgery

Laparoscopic Band Surgery requires patients to prepare themselves well before the procedure. You must commit to a series of medical appointments, lab tests, and numerous lifestyle changes.

Before Surgery

Patients need to start following lifestyle changes before surgery. These include the following:

• Remove high-carbohydrate foods (sugary drinks, crackers, bread, potatoes, pasta, cookies, rice, and cakes) from the diet.
• Remove processed foods, junk food, fried foods, and foods with sauces from the diet.
• Add healthy foods such as low-fat or fat-free dairy, lean protein, vegetables, and fresh fruits in controlled portions.
• Avoid alcohol and quit smoking altogether.
• Drinking at least eight glasses of water a day.
• Practice eating slowly and observe signs of fullness.
• Taking vitamin and/or mineral supplements daily.
• Stay active for at least 10 minutes daily.

Prepare for taking several days off work. Also, have someone at home to help you with the family, children, and household needs.

Immediately Before Surgery

Your doctor may put you on a pre-operative liquids-only diet (clear liquids and broths, sugar-free popsicles, soups, and other low-calorie, sugar-free foods).

You will not be allowed to eat or drink anything after midnight the night before surgery.

During Surgery

will be placed under general anesthesia. You will be placed under general anesthesia. You will be asleep and unaware during the entire procedure. The surgery starts with the surgeon making a single keyhole incision in the abdomen.

The surgeon will install a tiny lighted video camera (laparoscope) to visualize the patient’s anatomy on a screen. They will use long, narrow tools to access the stomach using additional keyhole incisions.

Now it is time to secure the gastric band around the top part of the stomach and tighten it to create a pouch. The procedure will make the stomach appear as an hourglass. There will be a narrow channel between the top and bottom portions.

The gastric band comprises of a hollow channel. It is adjustable and used to fill fluid. The doctor can adjust gastric band pressure by adding or extracting fluid through the port.

The surgeon will attach the gastric band to a small plastic tube that runs under the patient’s skin and into a port. Once everything is in place, the surgeon will release the gas from the patient’s abdomen. After that, he will close the keyhole incisions. The entire procedure will take around 30-60 minutes.

After Surgery

You will have a tiny port in your abdominal wall after waking up. The doctor will suggest a hospital stay of 1-2 days after surgery. Medication may be given for any pain or discomfort. Initially, your diet will be restricted to small amounts of liquid after surgery. You will gradually progress towards soft foods and then small bites.

Side Effects such as nausea, vomiting, indigestion, dehydration, and/or constipation are common. These will fade away as the body recovers. You can return to work a week after surgery. In some cases, it may take up to 6 weeks to resume all your normal activities.

Recovery after Laparoscopic Band Surgery

The overall recovery times for bariatric surgery will vary. This depends on the procedure patients wish to undergo. These days, most bariatric procedures are performed laparoscopically (with just a few tiny incisions in the abdomen). However, some patients may require an open procedure with a longer recovery. These procedures, such as sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass, may involve rerouting and cutting of the intestines/stomach and have risks of complications and longer recovery time.

Why Choose our Laparoscopic Surgeons?

We are committed to helping patients safely achieve their weight loss goals. Our multi-disciplinary team of experienced and skilled bariatric medical experts will guide you step-by-step. Right from obesity screening to counseling and a dedicated, supervised program with several follow-ups, we will help our patients at every phase.

Our dedicated team comprises of highly skilled and experienced dieticians, physiotherapists, clinical psychologists, gastroenterologists, bariatric surgeons, and cardiologists. We offer personalized treatment based on a client’s specific weight management goals.

Frequently Asked Questions