At the Florida Surgical Weight Loss Centers, we offer the FDA-approved LAP-BAND® System for your long-term weight loss needs. The LAP-BAND® is a small adjustable silicone ring that is placed around the upper part of the stomach during a minimally invasive, laparoscopic surgical procedure. The band creates a new, smaller stomach pouch that limits and controls the amount of food that your stomach can hold at one time. It also creates a small outlet that slows the emptying process from the upper to the lower portion of the stomach and into the intestines. As a result, you feel full faster and stay full longer, enabling you to experience a gradual and healthy weight loss.
The Surgical Procedure
Before the surgical procedure, you are placed under general anesthesia. Your surgeon then implants the LAP-BAND® around the upper portion of your stomach – much like a belt – using long, thin instruments inserted through a few tiny incisions (usually 0.5-1.5 cm, or 0.2-0.59 inches). A tube is then connected from the LAP-BAND® to a small access port, fixed beneath the skin of your abdomen. The surgery itself typically takes about an hour to complete, but can vary by patient. The LAP-BAND® procedure can normally be conducted on an outpatient basis or may require an overnight hospital stay for observation purposes.
A safer alternative to most other weight loss surgeries, the LAP-BAND® does not require cutting, stapling or rerouting of any abdominal organs. This results in a significantly lower mortality risk during surgery. And, since the procedure is performed laparoscopically, patients benefit from:
Less pain
Less blood loss during surgery
Less scarring
Shorter hospital stays
Faster recovery period
Adjustable Band Customizes Weight Loss
Unlike other bariatric surgery solutions, the LAP-BAND® is adjustable – enabling you and your surgeon to customize your weight loss after surgery. Approximately 4–6 weeks following your surgical procedure, adjustments to the LAP-BAND® are made through the small access port, fixed beneath the skin of your abdomen. Saline is injected into the port or removed from it to vary the size of the band around your stomach. The more saline injected into the band, the less food your stomach can hold at one time and vice versa. This is most usually commonly called an ‘adjustment’ or ‘fill.’ Adjustments to the band are normally done in an office setting the office and occur most frequently during the first year following surgery to maintain optimal weight loss. The adjustability of the LAP-BAND® allows for lifestyle changes that may arise after your surgery, such as pregnancy. The LAP-BAND® is designed to help you, not hinder you.
In addition, the LAP-BAND® is completely reversible. Since the LAP-BAND® does not alter your digestive tract processes, it can be removed without the need for additional, complicated surgery. In addition, your stomach usually returns to its original shape once the band is removed.
Fewer Side Effects for Enhanced Comfort
While LAP-BAND® does reduce the amount of food that you eat, your entire digestive tract is left intact so your risk of nutritional deficiencies is less than those associated with other bariatric surgeries. Additional complications associated with other weight loss surgeries, such as dumping syndrome, are also avoided with the LAP-BAND®.
Healthy, Long-term Weight Loss
The ultimate goal of weight loss surgery is to improve your health and quality of life, as well as to increase your lifespan. With the LAP-BAND®, the main goal is gradual, steady and lasting weight loss that may prevent, improve or resolve health problems associated with obesity. Typically, LAP-BAND® patients generally average a healthy 1–2 lb. reduction each week and some average up to 3 lbs. of weight lost on a weekly basis. Many studies have shown that once LAP-BAND® patients meet their target weight, they often maintain it for years. And, best of all, separate studies each evaluating one obesity-related health condition have shown that the LAP-BAND® has helped improve and resolve medical conditions, including asthma, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, GERD and hypertension.
Other bariatric surgeries can cause a significant loss of lean muscle mass and bone mass, resulting in additional health issues, such as osteoporosis. Many times, patients must be prescribed supplements to offset the higher levels of lean muscle mass and bone density loss. With LAP-BAND®, most of the weight lost is due to excess fat loss, enabling you to maintain more of the lean muscle mass you need to keep your metabolism working effectively – which helps you reach and maintain your weight loss goal.
You can count on the health care professionals at Florida Surgical Weight Loss Centers to guide and support you throughout every stage of your weight loss journey. Take the first step to a healthier and happier you by contacting us today.