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The
LAP-BAND® Adjustable Gastric Band (also known as
AGB) is one of the top surgical procedures used by
surgeons around the world to treat severe obesity.
Successfully and routinely used in over 250,000
surgeries performed worldwide over the last 8
years, the band is still relatively new in the
United States.
The surgeons use laparoscopic techniques to place
the band around the upper part of the stomach,
forming a small gastric pouch to limit food intake
and slow the food passing from the stomach into
the intestines.
The band is connected by tubing to a port, which
is placed under the skin during surgery. After
surgery, the inner surface of the band is inflated
or deflated with saline solution to provide
restriction. The fill level can be adjusted
through the port access as needed.
Surgeons don’t cut, staple, or bypass any portions
of the stomach or intestines, making the Lap Band
the safest, least invasive and least traumatic of
all weight loss surgeries. The laparoscopic
surgery has the advantage of reduced post-op pain,
shorter hospital stay and quicker recovery.
If for any reason the Lap Band needs to be
removed, the stomach generally returns to its
original form.
The manufacturer of the LAP-BAND® system provides
a very detailed review of the system. Please
click here for an extensive overview. |
