Lap-Band
(Laparoscopic Adjustable Banding)
Approved by the FDA in 2003, this procedure is rapidly gaining in popularity in the US. It has been a widely accepted surgery in Europe & Australia for more than 10 years, this procedure is gaining acceptance here due to the highly promoted safety of this procedure. This is a purely restrictive surgery, combined safety and reversibility with all the benefits of a minimally invasive approach. 
The advantage of this procedure is the possibility to modify the degree of the restriction according to the needs of each patient. This accomplished by inflating or deflating the band pressure, depending on the patient’s weight loss and tolerance. The weight loss is not as much as that of the lap RNY. The weight loss is slow and requires multiple adjustments. Close follow-up and a good patient compliance are necessary to obtain good results. This operation is still in evaluation in the US and does not have the track record of the lap RNY, but it is anticipated that it will have similar results to restrictive procedures of the past, like VBG. The operation takes less than 1 hour and requires an over night stay in the hospital and a recovery time of 1 week. It is a good surgical option for high risk patients, low BMI, and patients who place safety above all else.