The LAP-BAND® System

The LAP-BAND System is a surgical procedure that helps very overweight people lose excess body weight, improve weight-related health conditions, and enhance their quality of life.

Unlike other bariatric surgery procedures, the LAP-BAND System procedure does not require stomach cutting or stapling or re-routing of the gastrointestinal tract to bypass normal digestion.  The procedure involves implanting a silicone ring containing an inflatable cuff (known as a gastric band) around the upper portion of the stomach during a minimally invasive surgical procedure. Once the band is in place, it can be adjusted to restrict the amount of food a patient can eat. 

The goal of the LAP-BAND System is to create a new, smaller stomach pouch that can hold only a tiny amount of food, reducing the stomach's food storage area. The band also controls the stoma (stomach outlet) between the newly created, smaller upper stomach pouch and the lower part of the stomach. The smaller the stomach, the quicker people feel full, and the slower food moves between the upper and lower portions of the stomach during digestion. As a result, people feel less hunger, eat less, and lose weight.

What to expect from LAP-BAND Surgery

LAP-BAND generally results in a 50 percent loss of excess weight within the first 18 months following surgery. These results vary depending on your starting weight, the amount of exercise you do and how closely you follow the diet that Dr. Bass and the bariatric support team provide for you.

As with other forms of weight loss surgery, you can also expect a dramatic improvement in weight related health problems as you lose weight.

Surgical Procedures