A laparoscopic adjustable gastric band, commonly referred to as a lap band, is an inflatable silicone device placed around the top portion of the stomach to treat obesity by reducing the amount of food consumed. The inflatable band is placed around the upper part of the stomach to create a smaller stomach pouch. This restricts the amount of food that can be consumed at one time and increases the time taken for the stomach to empty.
Gastric banding is performed using laparoscopic surgery and usually results in a shorter hospital stay, faster recovery, smaller scars, and less pain than open surgical procedures.
Because no part of the stomach is stapled or removed, and the patient’s intestines are not re-routed, the procedure is completely reversible and the patient can continue to absorb nutrients from food normally. Gastric bands are made entirely of biocompatible materials, so they are able to stay in the patient’s body without causing harm.
The placement of the band creates a small pouch at the top of the stomach. This pouch holds approximately ½ cup of food, whereas the typical stomach holds about 6 cups of food. The pouch fills with food quickly, and the band slows the passage of food from the pouch to the lower part of the stomach, very much like a funnel. As the upper part of the stomach registers as full, the message to the brain is that the entire stomach is full, and this sensation helps the person to be hungry less often, feel full more quickly and for a longer period of time, eat smaller portions, and therefore, lose weight over time.
Adjustable gastric bands hold between 4 to 12 cc of saline solution, depending on their design. When the band is inflated with saline solution, it places pressure around the outside of the stomach. This decreases the size of the passage between the pouch created from the upper part of the stomach and the lower stomach and further restricts the movement of food. Over the course of several visits to the doctor, the band is filled until the optimal restriction has been achieved – neither so loose that hunger is not controlled, nor so tight that food cannot move through the digestive system. The number of adjustments required is an individual experience and cannot be accurately predicted.
Although the band does a lot of the work by restricting the movement of food and tricking the brain that the entire stomach is full, the patient must put a good deal of effort into healthy diet and exercise in order for the band to work properly.