What to Expect

• Before the Procedure
• The LAP-BAND^® Procedure
• After the Procedure

The LAP-BAND^® System

The LAP-BAND^® system refers to the FDA-approved form of weight loss surgery during which an adjustable, silicone gastric band is inserted around the top of the stomach in order to reduce the volume of food the stomach will hold. This results in curbing your hunger so you eat less, which in turn leads to continued weight loss. The term “LAP-BAND^®” derives its meaning from the laparoscope – a small camera – the surgeon uses and the gastric band he or she inserts.

-> See a video of the LAP-BAND^® procedure

Adjustable to Your Goals

The silicone band has an inner balloon that is connected by tubing to an access port, which is placed under the skin around your abdominal area. Saline (a sterile solution of sodium chloride) is injected into the access port and makes its way to the band. This makes the band opening around your stomach smaller, thereby restricting food intake. By reducing or increasing the amount of fluid in the band, the doctor can adjust it in a manner that best suits your weight loss goals. The tightness of the band correlates directly to your amount of satiety (feeling of fullness) throughout the day.

-> See a video of the LAP-BAND^® procedure

Benefits of LAP-BAND^® Surgery

Some benefits of the LAP-BAND^® procedure are as follows:

• Minimally invasive – Because there is no cutting and rerouting of the stomach and intestines, LAP-BAND^® weight loss surgery is significantly safer than gastric bypass and does not require an overnight hospital stay. Recovery from weight loss surgery is typically quick. Patients are able to return home in a matter of hours and return to work in a matter of days.
• Satiety (feeling of fullness) – Lap Band surgery works by making you feel full. This feeling typically lasts between meals and helps patients develop positive eating behaviors.
• Adjustable – The ability to adjust the amount of fluid in the band allows patients to customize the effect of LAP-BAND^® surgery by regulating the amount of food entering the stomach. If you want to lose weight at a more rapid pace, your band is filled; if you want to slow down your weight loss, your band is un-filled.
• Reversible – Unlike other weight loss surgeries, the LAP-BAND^® may be removed if needed.
• Compatibility with pregnancy – The LAP-BAND^® can be adjusted to open the stomach outlet in order to accommodate increased nutritional needs.
• Low incidence of side effects – Unlike gastric bypass surgery, the LAP-BAND^® procedure rarely results in nutritional deficiencies.

To find out more, just schedule a free informational seminar, or if you prefer, call 1-800-324-2694 to sign up for a free individual education session, at the True Results center nearest you.