The LAP-BAND® System
Feel full faster. Stay full longer.
Lose the weight and keep it off.
Since 2002, the surgeons of Southwest Bariatric Surgeons have been changing the lives of Austin and Round Rock residents through LAP-BAND® surgery. The LAP-BAND® System gives our patients the tool they need to not only lose weight, but to keep it off.
How Does the LAP-BAND® Work?
In the LAP-BAND® procedure, a silicone band is surgically placed around the top of the stomach, creating a small pouch. The stomach pouch results in eating less food because you get full quickly on a small amount of food. In addition, the small opening created by the band slows the emptying of food, causing you to feel full longer.
Tubing is connected from the band to an access port located under the skin, and saline is added and removed to adjust the band’s tightness. Performed in the office, this “adjustment” changes the rate at which food passes through the band to the remainder of the stomach. This adjustability makes the LAP-BAND® customizable to each individual patient.
Like any surgery, LAP-BAND® surgery does involve risks, and complications can occur. The surgeon addresses risks and complications at the seminar patients attend prior to their first appointment and in patient consultations.
Online and Offline Tools to Help You Throughout Your Weight Loss Journey
As a LAP-BAND® patient, you’ll have access to a comprehensive set of tools to help you. You can even start using some of these tools right now as you’re researching surgery.
Prior to surgery, you can access facts, resources, and tips at www.lapband.com. As you come closer to surgery, there’s information to help you prepare, including the “I’m Ready” preparation checklist.
After surgery, My LAP-BAND® Journey provides tools and resources to help you succeed. You can take advantage of:
- LAP-BAND® adjustment (aka “fill”) advice
- Tools to help you track your progress and set goals along the way
- Nutrition and physical activity guidelines
- Recipes to help you eat well with your Lap-Band
Plus, the LAP-BAND® manufacturer (Allergan, Inc.) has teamed up with Curves and Lindora to give you an extra boost in your weight loss. Curves, a special gym for women, offers female LAP-BAND® patients a free membership period and other membership discounts. And Lindora has designed a special weight loss program offered to LAP-BAND® patients free of charge.
All of this support complements the support that your surgeon, dietitian, and the staff of Southwest Bariatric Surgeons will provide to help you succeed at losing weight and keeping it off.
Frequent Questions About LAP-BAND® Surgery
How much weight can I expect to lose? How fast?
Weight loss with LAP-BAND® surgery is more gradual than with gastric bypass. It’s reasonable to expect to lose 1-2 pounds per week over a 2-year period. Some patients lose faster; others, slower. Weight loss has been shown to stabilize at 50-70% of excess weight, but some people do lose more and others, less. Success has a lot to do with how well you follow the rules your surgeon gives you. Plus, follow-up with your surgeon is critical. At Southwest Bariatric Surgeons, our patients see their surgeon on their follow-up visits, so their health and weight loss progress are monitored by a surgeon.
Will I stay overnight after surgery?
Many patients go home the day they have surgery. It depends on your health. Also, some insurance plans require patients to spend the night.
Will the LAP-BAND® port be visible?
The port is not visible. It’s under your skin and under fat. The image to the right shows an adjustment being performed. You’ll notice it looks like the patient is getting an injection. (Patients report that it’s not painful.)
*click image to enlarge
How soon can I return to work after surgery?
For most patients, we suggest taking a week off after surgery. You’ll also have some lifting restrictions after surgery, so if you have a very active job, you’ll need to take that into consideration.
After I lose the weight, can I have my LAP-BAND® removed?
The LAP-BAND® procedure is reversible, but we would strongly discourage having a LAP-BAND® removed after weight loss. If you had the band removed, you would most likely regain all the weight you lost because you’d go back to your old eating habits. The LAP-BAND® is designed to be a permanent tool to help you lose weight and keep it off.
What are the statistics of Southwest Bariatric Surgeons for gastric banding?
|
Italian |
Patterson study** |
Southwest Bariatric Surgeons |
|
| Patients | 1893 | 406 | 1584 |
| Follow-up yr | 6 | 5 | 7 |
| Erosion, % | 1.11% (n=21) | 0.74% (n=3) | 0.25% (n=4) |
| Pulm. Embolism, % | Not available | 0.49% (n=2) | 0.06% (n=1) |
| "Slips", % | Not available | 8.13% (n=33) | 3.72% (n=59) |
**Patterson et al, Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases 3 (2007), 42-51
NOTE: The term "n=" refers to the actual number of incidents.
Click here for more Frequently Asked Questions.
Start Changing Your Life Today
The quickest way to start your weight loss journey with Southwest Bariatric Surgeons is to attend one of our free educational seminars.
At a seminar, you’ll learn about the LAP-BAND® and other weight loss surgery procedures, find out about life after surgery, and have the opportunity to ask a surgeon your questions. You’ll learn about the benefits of surgery as well as the risks and possible complications. You’ll also acquire the forms necessary to start the process toward surgery and your new life.
To make it easy for you, we offer multiple seminars a month in Austin, Round Rock, and throughout Central Texas. Or you can view the seminar online.
Click here to find a convenient seminar and register.
Click here to attend the seminar online.
Don’t let 2010 be another year when you wish you would have lost weight.
Start changing your life today!
