What is Lapband Surgery?
Lapband surgery, also known as Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding (LAGB), is a type of weight-loss surgery that involves placing an adjustable band around the upper part of the stomach. Lapband surgery restricts the amount of food patients can eat by making them feel full after eating only a small amount of food. Lapbanding helps individuals lose and maintain their weight by providing physical barriers that slow down digestion, reduce hunger, and ultimately reduce caloric intake.
The Lapband procedure typically takes between 45 minutes to one hour and is performed under general anesthesia. Lapband surgery typically requires no incisions, which makes it a minimally invasive procedure and reduces the risk of postoperative pain or bleeding. Lapband surgery involves inserting a laparoscope into one or two short incisions in the abdomen to access the stomach area and place the Lapband around it. The Lapband is then filled with saline solution until it forms a snug ring around the stomach. This creates a small pouch at the top of the stomach which limits how much food it can hold at any given time, leading to feeling full faster and reducing overall caloric intake.
In addition to helping patients lose weight, Lapband surgery has been found to help improve body cholesterol levels, blood pressure levels, and even Type 2 diabetes symptoms in some cases. Regular follow up appointments are necessary for Lapband patients to ensure proper adjustment and maintenance of their Lapbands as well as monitor health outcomes such as nutritional deficiencies or other risks associated with bariatric surgeries like Lapbands.
Overall, Lapband surgery offers individuals an alternative weight-loss approach that may be safer than more traditional options like gastric bypasses or vertical sleeve gastrectomy surgeries. This minimally invasive procedure can help achieve significant weight loss results while minimizing potential side effects or long-term health risks associated with bariatric procedures.
