Dr Fielding & Lap-Band Surgery
Editor's note (November 2026): this is an older video and its words are unchanged, but parts of it are out of date. The Lap-Band is not the only FDA-approved device: FDA lists balloon and endoscopic suturing devices, and it approved the Allurion balloon in 2026. Reoperation is not rare: a JAMA Surgery study (2017) found 18.5% of 25,042 Medicare band patients had reoperations over about 4.5 years, and a 2015 review of studies with at least 10 years of follow-up found a median of 36.5%. ASMBS lists the lowest rate of early complications for the band, along with a high rate of re-operation and slower and less weight loss than other procedures. The Lap-Band is not based on "30 pounds" to lose: FDA criteria use BMI (at least 40, or at least 30 with an obesity-related condition). Your surgeon can explain which option fits you.
Individual results vary, and the same results may not occur for all patients. The experiences shown are those of individual patients and are not a guarantee of any result.
Thirteen years ago, I was a big sick man at 335 pounds. I could have chosen any weight loss surgery, but I chose the Lap-Band, the newer, would help me lose weight, help me change my behaviors and then keep the weight off long term. Not all weight loss centers are the same. It’s important to go to a Lap-Band specialist for your procedure. Go to lapband.com and find a specialist like me in your area.
Medically reviewed by Dr. David G. Davtyan, MD, FACS, FICS, FASMBS, California medical license G 70030 · October 2026
