LAP-BAND®
The LAP-BAND® System is a clinically proven tool to aid with long-term weight loss, and research has shown patients maintain an average excess weight loss of 47.1% at 15 years. Along with sustained weight loss, patients also see either improvement or complete control of obesity related diseases, including type 2 diabetes, sleep apnoea, heart disease, asthma and hypertension, among others.
The procedure takes around 30-45 minutes and is performed laparoscopically. The LAP-BAND® is placed around the top of the stomach applying a constant, gentle pressure which in turn increases a feeling of satiety (a feeling of fullness) on a smaller amount of food. This mechanism means that patients feel full sooner, and are satisfied on less food consumption.
Attached to the LAP-BAND® is an access port, which sits beneath the skin on the abdomen; this allows the LAP-BAND® to be adjusted to each patients individual needs. The key to success with the LAP-BAND® is regular follow-up. Adjustments do not require any additional surgery, and are done in our clinic, usually taking only a few minutes.
Advantages
- Gradual weight loss of around 0.5-1kg on a weekly basis, depending on metabolism and eating & exercise habits.
- Reversible procedure
- The LAP-BAND® System has been a proven tool for weight loss since 1994, with over 850,000 patients’ worldwide.
- No nutritional deficiencies from malabsorption.
Disadvantages
- As the top of the stomach is partially obstructed by the band, patients may vomit with over eating.
- Patients still have their full stomach so continue to feel hungry and can ‘drink past a band’, thus can easily consume large volumes of soft and liquid food/fluids.
- Requires regular medical follow up to adjust the volume in the band to assist with weight loss.
- Complications- band slippage, band erosion, tubing and access port troubles.
- Lower average excess weight loss of approximately 45% compared to the gastric sleeve and bypass.
Success Stories
Kimberly lost 22kg with the LAP-BAND® System. Watch her story here
Jason lost 31kg with the LAP-BAND® System. Watch his story here
Melinda lost 133kg with the LAP-BAND® System. Watch her story here
Stephen lost 36kg with the LAP-BAND® System. Watch his story here
Mary-Anne lost 31kg with the LAP-BAND® System. Watch here story here
References
O’Brien PE et al. Long-term outcomes after bariatric surgery: Fifteen-year follow-up of adjustable gastric banding and a systematic review of the bariatric surgical literature. Ann Surg 2013; 257:87-94
Dixon JB et al. Adjustable gastric banding and conventional therapy for type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2008;299(3):316-323
Dixon JB, Schachter LM, O’Brien PE. Sleep disturbance and obesity: changes following surgically induced weight loss. Arch Intern Med. 2001;161:102-106.
Dixon JB, Chapman L, O’Brien PE. Marked improvement in asthma after Lap-Band surgery for morbid obesity. Obes Surg. 1999;9:385-389.
Dixon JB, O’Brien PE. Gastroesophageal reflux in obesity: the effect of LAP-BAND placement. Obes Surg. 1999;9:527-531 .
Hutan Ashrafian CW et al. Effects of bariatric surgery on cardiovascular function. Circulation 2008;118:2091-2102
Paul E O’Brien. Mechanisms of Bariatric Surgery, 2010
Apollo Endosurgery, Data on File; 2015
