LAP-BAND® System Overview

This is the most commonly performed obesity surgery procedure in Australia. The lapband has been used since 1993 and over 400,000 cases have been performed worldwide.

The procedure is carried out laparoscopically (key-hole approach) and involves placing a silicone band around the upper portion of the stomach. This creates a small pouch above the band and a funnel like system which restricts the passage of food through it, into the stomach. It also induces a feeling of satiety. The combination of all these, is a reduced amount of food intake and, as a result, it produces weight loss.

Lap Band - Click on the image for an enlarged image.

It is the least invasive obesity procedure which usually takes less than an hour of operating time. There is no stomach cutting or stapling and it is both adjustable and reversible. It has the lowest operative complication rate.

It usually involves an overnight hospital stay only. The long term risk of malnutrition is low.

Its disadvantages are that it requires a significant degree of maintenance, with adjustments to achieve the optimal volume of saline fluid in the band, and it also tends to produce a lower rate of initial weight loss when compared to other obesity procedures. However, in time it approaches about 60% of excess weight loss in the majority of cases.