Learning about Laparoscopic Gastric Banding.

Learning about Laparoscopic Gastric Banding.

Scottsdale – I perform plastic surgery in patients after  laparoscopic-assisted gastric banding. Lap gastric banding is the second most common weight loss procedure. I decided to blog about this important procedure to educate patients who are considering weight loss surgery before having plastic surgery.

Using small incisions and utilizing laparoscopic instruments, the surgeon places an adjustable silicone band around the upper part of the stomach. The stomach which is a large pouch-like structure is squeezed into a smaller 1 1/2 inch pouch with a small one inch outlet. After banding, the smaller stomach can only hold an ounce of food. The band around the stomach can be adjusted in order to control the rate of weight loss. The gastric band has a plastic tube that runs from the band to an access port placed under the tummy skin.

To adjust the band, saline can be injected or removed from the access port under local anesthesia. The saline flows into or out of the silicone band, adjusting the pressure and the size of the stomach outlet. Placing saline into the band makes the outlet smaller, increasing the rate of weight loss. The most common complication after lap banding is nausea and vomiting, usually occuring when the band is too tight. The band can be loosened if the patient develops these symptoms.

Overall, gastric banding surgery has a low complication rate, is the least invasive and the safest of all the weight loss surgery options. It is also totally reversible. Lap banding, on average, leads to the loss of about 40% of the excess weight. Results do vary widely. Lap gastric banding is a procedure I do not perform.