Yes, but rarely. In 2026 the Lap-Band is still approved by the FDA and still made and sold in the United States. It is placed far less often than it used to be. National estimates from the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) count 773 gastric band operations out of about 270,089 bariatric operations in 2023. Today, most band care is for people who already have one.
How often gastric banding is done now
Each year ASMBS publishes an estimate of how many bariatric operations are performed in the United States, built from several national databases. The band's decline is steep.
| Year | Gastric band operations | All bariatric operations |
|---|
| 2011 | 55,932 | 158,000 |
| 2015 | 11,172 | 196,700 |
| 2019 | 2,375 | 256,000 |
| 2023 | 773 | 270,089 |
Source: ASMBS, Estimate of Bariatric Surgery Numbers, 2011-2023. In the same 2023 estimate, revision operations of all kinds (32,267) far outnumbered new bands.
The ASMBS patient page says the band's effect on obesity-related disease and long-term weight loss "is less than with other procedures," and that its use "has therefore declined over the past decade." The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) says band surgery is less common than sleeve or bypass because it is associated with more complications, mainly the need to remove the band due to intolerance.
Is the Lap-Band still FDA approved?
Yes. The FDA approved the Lap-Band through premarket approval P000008 on June 5, 2001. A labeling change approved on February 16, 2011 set the current indication: adults with a body mass index (BMI, a ratio of weight to height) of at least 40, or at least 30 with one or more obesity-related conditions, who have not succeeded with more conservative methods such as supervised diet, exercise and behavior programs.
The FDA record keeps growing. It shows a FLEX version of the band approved in December 2023, a trade-name change to "ReShape Lap-Band" in January 2024, and a new supplier for the port needles approved in July 2025. Whether a new band suits a particular person in 2026 is covered in who is a candidate for a new Lap-Band.
Who makes the Lap-Band now
The band has changed hands more than once. The FDA approval database now lists the holder as Medtimo, Inc., of Eden Prairie, Minnesota. The manufacturer's own website, lapband.com, describes the Lap-Band trademarks as Medtimo's and carries a 2026 Medtimo copyright.
A filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) explains the most recent change. In August 2025, ReShape Lifesciences completed the sale of its assets to Ninjour Health International Limited, an affiliate of Biorad Medisys Pvt. Ltd. If your band was placed years ago, the name on your implant card may be a different company. That is expected.
Why surgeons moved away from banding
Long-term follow-up changed opinion. A French national study of 52,868 band patients found that 28% of bands had been removed by 5 years and 40% by 7 years. The 2019 update of the clinical practice guidelines published with ASMBS lists a "high explant rate," erosion and slip among the band's drawbacks. They also give a typical target weight loss of 20% to 25% of total body weight for the band, against 25% to 30% for the sleeve and 30% to 35% for gastric bypass.
The band still has real advantages. ASMBS lists the lowest rate of complications early after surgery, no cutting of the stomach or intestines, and the lowest risk of vitamin and mineral deficiencies. For more detail on durability, see how long a Lap-Band lasts.
What this means if you already have a band
A falling number of new bands is not, by itself, a reason to remove yours. Some people keep a working band for many years. The decision rests on how you feel, how your weight is doing and what tests show. Our guide to keeping, adjusting or removing a band walks through it, and Lap-Band adjustments and tightness explains what normal restriction feels like.
What has changed is access. If the surgeon who placed your band has retired or no longer looks after bands, you may need to find a new team for adjustments and checkups. Bring whatever records you have.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still get a new Lap-Band put in today?
The device is FDA approved and the manufacturer still markets it, so a surgeon can place one. Fewer surgeons offer it, because most patients and surgeons now choose a sleeve or bypass. Ask any surgeon you see whether they place new bands and how they would follow you afterward. Dr. Davtyan places new Lap-Bands as well as caring for existing ones, and a consultation is where you find out whether one suits you.
Was the Lap-Band taken off the market?
No. The FDA's premarket approval database still lists the Lap-Band, with supplements approved as recently as July 2025, and the manufacturer's site still describes current models. What changed is how often it is chosen. ASMBS estimates fell from 55,932 band operations in 2011 to 773 in 2023.
If so few bands are placed, will anyone be able to adjust mine?
Yes, but plan ahead. Adjustments should be done by a team that knows bands. The manufacturer's safety information says a physician familiar with adjustments should be available for several days afterward, in case the band needs loosening. Keep your records, including your band model and fill history, so a new team can pick up where the last one stopped.
Does a rare procedure mean my band is outdated or unsafe?
Not on its own. A band that is comfortable, intact and helping you control portions can stay. A band causing reflux, vomiting, swallowing trouble or steady weight regain deserves an evaluation, whatever its age. The question is how your band is working for you, not how many new bands are placed each year across the country.
Talk with Dr. Davtyan in Rancho Cucamonga
Dr. David G. Davtyan, MD, FACS, FICS, FASMBS, is a bariatric surgeon who has a Lap-Band himself. The Rancho Cucamonga office is at 8330 Red Oak Street, Suite 201, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730; call 909-355-2525 or toll free 877-9-BE-SLIM (877-923-7546). The first consultation is complimentary, Spanish is spoken, and you can also reach the office through the contact page. For an overview of band care, start at the Lap-Band in Rancho Cucamonga guide.
Sources
- ASMBS: Estimate of Bariatric Surgery Numbers, 2011-2023
- ASMBS: Bariatric Surgery Procedures
- NIDDK: Types of Weight-loss Surgery
- FDA PMA database: P000008, LAP-BAND Adjustable Gastric Banding System
- FDA PMA database: P000008/S017 (current indications, approved February 16, 2011)
- FDA PMA database: P000008/S051 (approved July 11, 2025)
- Lap-Band manufacturer site (Medtimo, Inc.): Important safety information
- SEC: Vyome Holdings (formerly ReShape Lifesciences) Form 8-K filed August 19, 2025
- Lazzati A, et al. Natural history of adjustable gastric banding. Ann Surg 2017
- Mechanick JI, et al. AACE/TOS/ASMBS clinical practice guidelines, 2019 update (ASMBS-hosted PDF)
More in the Lap-Band in Rancho Cucamonga guide
Start at the Lap-Band in Rancho Cucamonga page, or go straight to a topic.
Understanding your band
Weighing your options
Getting care in Rancho Cucamonga
