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Lap Band Procedure
About Lap Band |
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The LAP-BAND is an implantable device consisting of an inflatable band (a silicone ring), which fits around the upper part of the stomach.
The LAP-BAND® System is an adjustable gastric band designed to help you lose excess body weight, improve weight-related health conditions and enhance quality of life. It reduces the stomach capacity and restricts the amount of food that can be consumed at one time. The Lap Band procedure does not require stomach cutting and stapling or gastrointestinal re-routing to bypass normal digestion. The LAP-BAND® System is the only adjustable and reversible weight-loss surgery available in the United States and the only weight-loss surgery approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The name "LAP-BAND" comes from the surgical technique used, laparoscopic, and the name of the implanted medical device, gastric band. This band creates a new, smaller stomach pouch that can hold only a small amount of food, so the food storage area in the stomach is reduced. The band also controls the stoma (stomach outlet) between the new upper pouch and the lower part of the stomach. When the stomach is smaller, you feel full faster, while the food moves more slowly between your upper and lower stomach as it is digested. As a result, you eat less and lose weight.
There are several key features that make the Lap-Band an attractive surgical
technique for weight loss: |
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laparoscopic placement |
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no division or anastomosis of stomach or bowel |
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removable |
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adjustable |
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| History of Lap Band |
Open adjustable silicone gastric banding (ASGB) was already introduced at that time by Dr. Lubomyr Kuzmak (New Jersey, U.S.). In 1991, Drs. Mitiku Belachew and M. Legrand (Huy, Belgium) working on a confidential project with Allergan (then Inamed Development Company) started the development of laparoscopic gastric banding for the treatment of the seriously overweight. After two years of design, development work and testing of various prototypes and variations of the surgical technique in an animal lab, a video of the laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding in an animal model was presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery (ASBS) in June 1993.
To date, over 300,000 devices have been sold worldwide, allowing thousands of patients to lose weight and keep it off, reduce health risks and live a happier life. Benefits of this safe and least invasive procedure are now well-known in the U.S. and abroad. We at Allergan continue to refine the LAP-BAND® System and placement technique in conjunction with surgeons around the world to achieve better outcomes for our patients. |
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| Adjusting the LAP-BAND |
| One of the most appealing features of the LAP-BAND is that it’s adjustable. Your doctor will insert a thin needle into the access port located beneath the skin, and either withdraw liquid to loosen the band or inject more saline to tighten the band, depending on your response to the therapy and your comfort level. If you find the band is so restrictive that it causes significant discomfort, it will be loosened; if you find yourself eating too much and/or not feeling full, it will be tightened to allow further restriction of food intake. |
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| What Are The Advantages of the LAP-BAND? |
| The advantages of laparoscopic abdominal surgery are well-known and include reduced pain and trauma, shortened hospital stay and quicker recovery. However, in the early 1990s when laparoscopic surgery became popular, laparoscopic weight-loss surgery was still a challenge due to the technical difficulties associated with patient excess weight. |
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Minimally invasive procedure |
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No intestinal re-routing |
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No large incisions or scarring |
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No cutting or stapling of the intestines or stomach |
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No surgical bypass is created |
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Significantly less pain post-op |
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Lower risk of complications and mortality |
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Fully adjustable and removable |
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Clinically proven to maintain long-term weight loss |
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Low risk of nutritional deficiencies associated with gastric bypass |
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| Effective Long-Term Weight Loss |
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More than 300,000 LAP-BAND® System devices placed worldwide |
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Standard of care for hundreds of surgeons around the world |
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1 selling adjustable gastric band for weight loss |
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Academic publications with up to 10 years of follow-up |
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| Life After Surgery |
| One of the benefits of the LAP-BAND® System is that patients return to normal activity relatively quickly after surgery. The length of hospital stay is usually less than 24 hours. It also takes most people about a week to return to work and a month to six weeks to resume strenuous exercising. In the case of open surgery or if there are complications, recovery may take longer.
LAP-BAND® System surgery is the first step on the road to successful and sustained weight loss. However, you must take the next step by adopting a lifelong program that will help you meet your goals. This multifaceted program will include routine check-ups with your surgeon, ongoing band adjustments if necessary, and regular attendance at support group meetings. You will need to work closely with your surgeon and weight-management team, follow their advice, and communicate openly with them. You will also need to learn to use the LAP-BAND® System as a tool to help you lose your excess weight |
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| Post-Surgery Nutrition |
After surgery, you will need a new nutrition plan. Your surgeon and/or dietitian can help you learn about and get used to the changes in lifestyle and eating habits you need to make. It is very important to follow the eating and drinking instructions beginning immediately after the operation.
In the first few weeks after your surgery, you will be on a liquid diet since only thin liquids will be tolerated by your stomach at that time. As you heal, you will gradually progress to pureed foods (three to four weeks post-op) and then soft foods (five weeks post-op). Finally, you will be able to eat solid foods.
When you can eat solid foods without problems you will need to pay close attention to your diet. The LAP-BAND® System is designed to restrict solids, not liquids, so drinking liquids will not make you feel full. You also should not drink liquids during or immediately after meals as they will flush food through the reduced stomach pouch, which means you will not get the prolonged feeling of satiety needed to help you eat less. However, staying hydrated and drinking lots of water throughout the day is important. You will also need to learn to eat slowly and chew your food very thoroughly. |
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