The Lap Band® Adjustable Gastric Banding System is a simple yet advanced gastric banding system that helps you gradually lose and control your weight by reducing the amount of food that your stomach can hold at one time. Allergan is the pioneer of adjustable gastric banding in the United States - this is a constantly evolving technology, involving a great deal of research and development.
The name “Lap Band” comes from the surgical technique used, laparoscopic, and the name of the implanted medical device, gastric band. The Lap Band® System is a silicone ring designed to be placed around the upper part of the stomach and filled with saline on its inner surface. This creates a new, smaller stomach pouch that can hold only a small amount of food, so the food storage area in the stomach is reduced. The band also controls the stoma (stomach outlet) between the new upper pouch and the lower part of the stomach. When the stomach is smaller, you feel full faster, while the food moves more slowly between your upper and lower stomach as it is digested. As a result, you eat less and lose weight.
The Minimally Invasive Procedure
During the procedure, surgeons usually use laparoscopic techniques (making tiny incisions rather than a large incision and inserting long-shafted instruments through “ports”), to wrap the Lap Band® System around the patient’s stomach. A narrow camera is passed through a port so the surgeon can view the operative site on a nearby video monitor. Like a wristwatch, the band is fastened around the upper stomach to create the new stomach pouch that limits and controls the amount of food you eat. The band is then locked securely in a ring around the stomach.
Adjustable Weight Loss
Once placed around the stomach, tubing connects the Lap Band® to an access port fixed beneath the skin of your abdomen. This allows the surgeon to change the stoma (stomach outlet) size by adding or subtracting saline, or salt water, inside the inner balloon through the access port. This adjustment process helps determine the rate of weight loss. If the band is too loose and weight loss is inadequate, adding more saline can reduce the size of the stoma to further restrict the amount of food that can move through it. If the band is too tight, the surgeon will remove some saline to loosen the band and reduce the amount of restriction.
The diameter of the band can be modified to meet your individual needs, which can change as you lose weight. For example, pregnant patients can expand their band to accommodate a growing fetus, while patients who aren’t experiencing significant weight loss can have their bands tightened.
The Lap Band AP® System 
The latest generation of the Lap Band® System - the Lap Band AP® System - is the most advanced adjustable gastric banding system approved by the FDA and was built on a proven heritage of effective laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding technology.
The Lap Band AP® System uses patented Omniform™ technology—soft, precurved, individual sections—and introduces a 360 degree inflation area. Omniform™ technology is designed to minimize the potential for leaks due to unwanted creases or folds (crease-fold failure). At the same time, the 360 degree inflation area evenly distributes pressure for complete coverage of stomach anatomy. The Lap Band AP® System also has the highest available fill volume so your surgeon has the flexibility to offer more precise adjustments.
The Lap Band AP® System was designed to extend the proven performance of the Lap Band® System.
The Lap Band® System Advantages at a Glance
Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Minimally invasive surgical approach
- No intestinal re-routing, cutting or stapling of the stomach wall or bowel as with gastric bypass
- Often performed on an out-patient basis
- Small incisions and minimal scarring
- Reduced post-surgical pain, shorter hospital stay and recovery time
- Return to work/normal activities typically within a week
Fewer Risks and Side Effects
- Ten times lower short-term mortality rate than gastric bypass1
- Low risk of post-surgical nutritional deficiencies associated with gastric bypass
- Reduced risk of hair loss
- No "dumping syndrome" (food passes through the system too fast resulting in severe cramping/digestive disruption) related to dietary intake restrictions
Adjustable
- Allows for personalized steady, healthy rate of weight loss
- No additional surgery for adjustments
- Supports pregnancy by allowing for increased nutritional needs
- Surgical weight loss option specifically designed for long term weight maintenance
Effective Long Term Weight Loss
- More than 350,000 Lap Band® System devices distributed worldwide
- #1 selling adjustable gastric band for weight loss worldwide
- Over ten years of medical studies and academic publications follow-up
- Sets the "gold standard" of care for obesity treatment for hundreds of surgeons world-wide
Reversible
- While it is intended to be a long-term treatment, the Lap Band® System can be removed at any time, in some cases laparoscopically
- Stomach and other anatomy typically return to their original state/functions
Linear Mode
