What Is Lapband Surgery?What is it ? Lap band surgery is a type of weight loss surgery. A silicon ring, resembling a belt, is placed around the top of the stomach and inflated with saline. The shape of the stomach is thus modified and as a result the stomach's capacity to hold food is reduced. The patient thus feels "full" faster and hence eats less. Why is it called Lap Band Surgery? The name "Lap Band" surgery originated because laparoscopy is used to insert the gastric band. How does it help ? The surgery helps in losing excess weight and controls health problems arising out of obesity. How much weight loss is possible? On an average a patient can lose 50% to 60 % of their excess body weight. This may take up to two years to accomplish. The surgery A silicon band is inserted into the body using laproscopic surgery. A small camera or laparascope is inserted into the body through a small incision. Using this to monitor the surgery and manipulate instruments, the surgeon then places the Lap Band around the stomach and holds it in place with sutures. A port is inserted under the skin on the abdomen. This helps to adjust the band. The patient can inflate the Lap Band through the port by injecting saline into it. This makes the path to the lower stomach smaller and thus the person is able to eat less. The surgery does not require any major incisions .Instead a few small openings are made through which special instruments are inserted to perform the surgery. It is considered to be one of the least invasive of all weight loss surgeries Time frame The whole procedure takes about an hour and the patient may not be required to stay back in the hospital overnight. Within a week the patient can resume normal activity. However a special diet plan needs to be followed. This usually starts off with being completely liquid based. Gradually soft foods and then solid foods are introduced. The patient may also be required to follow a special exercise regime. The patient will need to visit the doctor regularly to get the Lap Band adjusted and for follow up. Depending on how much weight is lost plastic surgery may be recommended. Some complications to watch out for: Like any other surgery, Lap band surgery also has its own set of complications. Besides infection or bleeding some particular complications are: The band can slip as the patient loses weight and ultimately the stomach lies above the band. The patient can then suffer severe heartburn or vomiting. There is also the possibility of the stomach pouch enlarging and the stoma or the outlet to the stomach becoming blocked. The band itself may also deflate on its own due to leakage. In rare cases the band can erode and eat into the wall of the stomach. Sometimes laparoscopy is not possible and the surgeon may have to resort to more invasive forms of surgery. |