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The Lap-Band by JOHNSON & JOHNSON™
How does the Adjustable Gastric Banding System work?
Please use these links provided below for more information with respect to:
Other Pages under this section:
- Weight Loss Menu
- Introduction
- Lap-Banding Types
- What is BMI?
- Risk Information
- Questionnaire (Medical & Specific)
- Procedure Costs / Tariffs
What is a lap band?
Every body gets the energy it needs from food that passes through the digestive system. The stomach will store the food while it is broken down by enzymes or gastric juices. The result of the process is that energy is delivered to the body as broken down nutrition passing into the blood stream.
The Lap-Band is an adjustable band, which is positioned around the upper part of the stomach creating a small pouch. This small pouch then becomes a smaller stomach able to store less food. The adjustable band is comprised of a silicone elastomer hollow ring that is filled with saline. The flow of food that will move from the stomach pouch to the lower stomach is restricted and controlled by the size of the fitted ring. The results are that a patient will feel fuller sooner and for longer periods of time.
To change the size of the ring and the rate at which food can flow through to the lower stomach, the size of the band can be adjusted . This is accomplished by adding or removing air although older versions used a saline solution. This procedure is called inflating or deflating.
The band is connected by a tube to a small container that will be placed under the skin during surgery. Later, the surgeon can control the amount of air pressure in the band by inserting a fine needle in the container. If the patient is not loosing enough weight, more pressure can be added. Likewise if the band is too tight the surgeon can deflate the band, by removing air. These procedures do not require further surgery.
How is the Lap-Band placed?
The name Lap-Band is derived from the beginning of the word Laparoscopic and the end of the phrase Laparoscopic(Gastric) Band. Laparoscopy is the surgical procedure that is used to place the band. With Laparoscopy the surgeon makes incisions in the abdominal wall to allow the insertion of narrow, hollow tubes. Extremely small and thin instruments are then used to pass through the tubes. These instruments include a microscopic camera that sends a video image to a monitor that is used by the surgeon to see inside the abdomen..
Once the instruments are in place, a small tunnel is fashioned behind the top of the stomach. The band is then pulled around the stomach to form a ring. This ring is then locked securely with the band forming a circle around the stomach.
How Will I Feel After the Surgery?
Straight after surgery you will probably feel tired, sleepy and feel some discomfort and pain especially in the first few post operative days. Your plastic surgeon will also prescribe antibiotics to prevent potential infection and you will also be given tablets to reduce any swelling.
You might also notice that you feel unhappy or depressed a few days after surgery. This is a normal consequence of stress and of undergoing general anaesthetic, frustration with the healing process, more pain than you expected or the fact that you are away from your home and family.
Is the Recovery Painful?
Our client’s experience is that some pain is present, especially during the first postoperative days. However, when you leave the clinic you will be prescribe painkillers, which should be sufficient to help with any pain you might have.
Post-operational Course
There are many advantages of the laparoscopy over open surgery where a much larger incision is required. After laparoscopic surgery most people experience far less pain, there are fewer complications and patients are able to recover much faster, resuming activities usually within a few days.
This technique is the least invasive of all weight loss surgeries and has the least risk of complications
[Last Update: Revised 24th May 2010]
