LAP-BAND

Gastric banding is a restrictive operation used for weight loss.

In the laparoscopic LAP-BAND procedure, an inflatable band is placed around the upper portion of the stomach. The band divides the stomach into two portions: one small and one larger portion. Since the stomach is divided into parts, most patients feel full sooner when eating. The band is adjustable, so if the weight loss is not acceptable, the band can be tightened or loosened via inflation or deflation of saline. Food digestion happens normally.