A Quick History of the Lap Band Surgery

The Lap Band Surgery or the Adjustable Gastric Band surgery has been done in the United States since the late 1990’s as part of clinical trials.  It was approved by the FDA in the early 2000’s for weight loss on patients with a BMI over 35 Kg/m² with 2 or more comorbidities or BMI over 40 with or without comorbidities  and in 2011 it was also approved for lower BMI patients (BMI 30-34 Kg/m²) with 2 or more comorbidities.

The Procedure

The Lap Band surgery consist of placing a silicone band with a balloon around the upper portion of the stomach to restrict the amount of food the patient can eat.  Through a subcutaneous port the balloon is adjusted with saline causing restriction and as a consequence weight loss.

This procedure is done laparoscopically in 99.9% of the time. The procedure takes approximately 20-30 minutes and it is usually an ambulatory procedure. The procedure is done under general anesthesia and is usually a low risk procedure.

Patient’s that undergo this procedure are required to follow up in my office approximately every 6 weeks to undergo adjustments of the lap band. The expected average weight loss seen after this procedure is between 40-50% of the excess body weight. This weight loss is seen in approximately 2-2-1/2 years.

This is one of the disadvantages of the procedure. Not only the patient needs frequent follow-ups but also the weight loss is very slow.  For this reason many patients get discourage and ultimately the overall weight loss gets affected.

Even though the initial risk of the surgery is very small the chances of undergoing a reoperation in the long-term is significantly higher. The lap band is a foreign body which by itself can cause some complications.

Long Term Complications of the Lap Band Surgery

A percentage of the patients will develop an erosion or slippage of the band in the long term. An erosion means that the band perforates the stomach because of excess friction, infecting the band and ultimately requiring a band removal.

A band slippage is when the band moved from the original position causing herniation or strangulation of the stomach through the band.  In many cases this requires band removal or at least an adjustment laparoscopically.

The Lap Band surgery was very popular several years ago but in recent years it has fallen out of favor by most surgeons.  Most of the Lab Band surgery currently done is to remove it.  Many patients get discourage with the slow weight loss, or they failed to follow up.  I have seen many patients that lost a significant amount of weight and have maintained the weight loss but developed a long term complication with the band.  Either because they started to over eat or simple did not follow up with their surgeon.

It is very important that if you op to undergo Lap Band surgery you need to understand that it is a slow process and you need to stay committed for life. Most of my patients will decide to undergo a Sleeve Gastrectomy or a Gastric bypass, but some patients are good candidate to undergo a lap band.  Also as mentioned before, the lap band is the only one approved for low BMI patients.

If you will like to learn more about the Lap Band surgery Contact Us and make an appointment to see what weigh loss surgery option is right for you.

Remember that if you want to succeed on this weight loss journey you have to Take Action and Get Moving.