Adjustable Gastric Banding System (Lap-Band) is the least invasive and the only adjustable surgical treatment for morbid obesity in the United States. Adjustable Gastric Banding induces weight loss by reducing the capacity of the stomach, which restricts the amount of food that can be consumed.
LAP-BAND®
Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in June 2001, the LAP-BAND is made by Apollo and has the most clinical experience in the United States. The LAP-BAND has helped more than 650,000 patients worldwide achieve and maintain long-term weight loss and it is the only band that has been approved for patients with a BMI as low as 30 with one obesity related co morbid conditions.
The average excess weight loss at two years after LAP-BAND is 50%. However, in a separate study, the Lap band system was shown to provide 65% excess weight loss at 1 year and 70% excess weight loss at 2 years for people with a BMI between 30 and 40. That translates into shrinking an average of 6 inches off the waistline and 6 inches off the hips.
Indications & Risks
The LAP-BAND System is indicated for weight reduction for patients with obesity, with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of at least 40 kg/m or a BMI of at least 30 with one or more obesity related comorbid conditions.
It is indicated for use in adult patients who have failed more conservative weight reduction alternatives, such as supervised diet, exercise and behavior modification programs. Patients who elect to have this surgery must make the commitment to accept significant changes in their eating habits for the rest of their lives.
Contraindications
The LAP-BAND® System is not recommended for non-adult patients, patients with conditions that may make them poor surgical candidates or increase the risk of poor results (e.g., inflammatory or cardiopulmonary diseases, GI conditions, symptoms or family history of autoimmune disease, cirrhosis) who are unwilling or unable to comply with the required dietary restrictions, who have alcohol or drug addictions or who currently are or may be pregnant.
Warnings
The LAP-BAND® System is a long-term implant. Explant and replacement surgery may be required. Patients who become pregnant or severely ill, or who require more extensive nutrition, may require deflation of their bands. Anti-inflammatory agents, such as aspirin, should be used with caution and may contribute to an increased risk of band erosion.
Adverse Events
Placement of the LAP-BAND System is major surgery and, as with any surgery, death can occur. Possible complications include
Risks associated with the medications and methods used during surgery
Risks associated with any surgical procedure and the patient’s ability to tolerate a foreign object implanted in the body.
Band slippage, erosion and deflation, reflux, obstruction of the stomach, dilation of the esophagus, infection or nausea and vomiting may occur. Reoperation may be required.
Rapid weight loss may result in complications that may require additional surgery. Deflation of the band may alleviate excessively rapid weight loss or esophageal dilation.
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- In an ideal world, every weight loss procedure would have perfect results. However, for various reasons you may have a complication or even weight regain from your original weight loss surgery. Revision of LAP-BAND® or Gastric Bypass may be a solution or option for you. Please contact our office directly to schedule an appointment and see if this is a solution for you with our program.
Fifteen-Year Follow-Up of Adjustable Gastric Banding and a Systematic Review of the Bariatric Surgical Literature Paul E. O’Brien, MD, FRACS, Leah MacDonald, PhD, Margaret Anderson, BHIM, Leah Brennan, PhD, MApp Sci, and Wendy A. Brown, MBBS, PhD, FRACS
Executive summary: Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding for the treatment of obesity (Update and Re-appraisal). The Australian Safety and Efficacy Register of New Interventional Procedures – Surgical (ASERNIPS) 2002; 1. (Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding surgery, like the LAP-BAND surgery, is associate with a mean short-term mortality rate of around 0.05% compared to 0.50% for Gastric Bypass and 0.31% for Vertical Banded Gastroplasty.)