LAP-BAND Surgery
Lose excess weight with minimally invasive LAP-BAND surgery, the only adjustable and reversible weight loss surgery.
With more than 600,000 procedures performed worldwide, The LAP-BAND System is one of the most popular and successful laparoscopic gastric band surgeries available to patients in the Ft. Myers and Naples area.
A restrictive form of weight loss surgery, LAP-BAND helps those carrying excess pounds lose weight by reducing the amount of food that can be consumed. LAP-BAND surgery also helps you feel full for longer, prompting you to eat less often throughout the day without feeling hungry.
Benefits of LAP-BAND Surgery
The Lap Band system features a number of benefits:
- It’s reversible
- No cutting or stapling of the stomach
- Less pain and discomfort than other weight loss surgeries
- Less invasive than traditional weight loss surgeries
- Quicker recovery period
What does LAP-BAND Surgery entail?
LAP-BAND surgery at GI Surgical Specialists involves the implantation of a fully adjustable medical device known as a “gastric band” around the upper portion of the stomach during a minimally invasive laparoscopic operation.
During laparoscopic gastric band surgery, your surgeon will use a laparoscope, a thin, flexible tube equipped with a light, camera and other surgical tools to guide the gastric band into place. This camera transmits information to a video screen so the surgeon can view the surgical area and perform the procedure. At this time, your weight loss surgeon will also implant a fill port directly beneath the surface of the abdominal skin along with tubing to connect the port to the gastric band. Once the band and port are in place, your weight loss surgeon can adjust and tighten the band to reduce the amount of food you can eat by injecting sterile saline (salt water) into the fill port.
The objective of the LAP-BAND procedure is to create a stomach pouch that can only hold a small amount of food, thereby reducing the stomach’s food storage capacity. Your gastric band will also control the stoma or stomach outlet between the newly created smaller pouch and the lower part of the stomach. The smaller your stomach pouch the faster you will feel full and the slower food will take to move between the upper and lower portions of the stomach during digestion. Thanks to your LAP-BAND, you will feel full, eat less and finally lose weight.
Single Incision LAP-BAND Surgery
LAP-BAND surgery can also be performed via the Single Incision Technique at GI Surgical Specialists. During single incision LAP-BAND surgery, your surgeon will insert the gastric band through one incision located in the belly button, which reduces scarring and expedites recovery even more than with laparoscopic techniques.
What to expect from LAP-BAND surgery?
Ninety-four percent of LAP-BAND patients are satisfied with their weight loss results after one year.
LAP-BAND patients lose one to two pounds per week on average, though some patients report losing at a faster rate. Factors like your starting weight, your ability to adjust to the dietary and lifesyle changes and your health will impact the rate at which you lose weight. Most Lap Band patients lose 50 to 100 pounds in their first year following surgery.
The first step to determine in Lap Band surgery is right for you is to determine your body mass index or BMI, then speak with your weight loss surgeon at GI Surgical Specialists. Dr. Denk performs several other incisionless and minimally invasive weight loss procedures and can speak with you about the risks and benefits of each option according to your individual needs.
As with any surgical procedure there are certain risks associated with LAP-BAND that you should be aware of. We will carefully review the benefits and risks of your procedure with you so that you will be fully informed before deciding if LAP-BAND is a suitable weight loss option for you.