The LAP-BAND® System is a small adjustable ring or band that is placed around the upper part of the stomach during a laparoscopic or minimally invasive surgical procedure. LAP-BAND is a safer alternative to many other bariatric (weight loss) surgeries because it does not require cutting, stapling, or rerouting of abdominal organs and is performed laparoscopically. Laparoscopic procedures do not require a large incision which generally means less discomfort and faster recovery.

The LAP-BAND  is connected to an access port fixed just beneath the skin of the abdomen by a long tube. Saline can be injected into the port or removed from it to vary the size of the band around the stomach. This is most usually called an adjustment or fill.

The band creates a small pouch at the top of the stomach and restricts the amount of food moving into the stomach.  This creates a feeling of fullness after a very small amount of food is eaten and helps you feel full longer. 

The combination of smaller amounts of food and less frequent meals results in weight loss. By adjusting the amount of food that passes through the band, the amount off weight loss can be controlled by your surgeon to meet your health needs and weight loss goals.

What is a Gastric Band Adjustment?

Gastric bands were created to be adjustable. This gives Dr. Aguila the ability to regulate your weight loss after surgery. It also prevents you from having a permanent change made to your body. Gastric bands are tubes that clamp around the top portion of your stomach in order to create a new stomach pouch. The new stomach pouch is substantially smaller than the full stomach and holds very little food. Because it can't hold much food, your new pouch helps you to eat fewer calories, resulting in substantial weight loss for you without the problem of hunger and cravings.

Since the rest of your stomach is still there, below the band, the band can be adjusted to create a larger hole between the top of your stomach and the bottom. When this happens, food passes between the upper and lower portions of your stomach faster and you are able to eat more food which slows your weight loss. When your gastric band is adjusted, it is filled with saline that makes the band's tubes larger and closes off the opening between the small stomach pouch on the top and the large remaining stomach underneath.

The adjustability of your band allows for lifestyle changes that may arise after your surgery such as pregnancy. You can rest knowing that your surgery is a way to help you, not hinder.

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