Lap Band Surgeons

During lap band surgery, a lap band surgeon will place a band around the upper portion of your stomach. This creates a small stomach pouch, called a neostoma, that holds a limited portion of food. This is because the nerves that signal the brain when your stomach is full are located in the upper part of your stomach. The band allows the food you eat to slowly be released into the lower portion of your stomach to be digested. There are fewer risks and complications with this surgery than with other types of weight loss surgery.

The band has a tube attached to it with a port that doctors can access. They can fill the port to add saline solution into the band, which increases the restriction on your stomach. Adjustments are usually made every four to six weeks following surgery, depending on your individual circumstances. Your doctor can make adjustments as he or she sees fit, according to how much weight you are losing and whether you are having any side effects.

With the lap band procedure, you should lose weight gently and steadily over a period of 18 months to three years. Your doctor may add fluid to the band, further restricting it, if you show inadequate weight loss or you don't feel full for very long after meals, or feel hungry between meals. If you are taking in an increased volume of meals, your doctor may also decide to add fluid.