Is Lap-Band Surgery Right for You?

Did you know you can lose weight online, and access the CalorieKing.com.au Program (13 weeks of practical information on all aspects of weight control)? Learn more

Read more :

• What is Lap-Banding?
• Who Can Have Lap-Banding?
• Who Should Not Have Lap-Banding?
• How Much Weight Might You Lose?
• How Much Does Lap-Banding Cost?
• What are the Benefits of Lap-Banding?
• What are Some Possible Side-Effects?

What is Lap-Banding?

A Lap-Band is a silicone gastric band that’s placed around the top of the upper part of the stomach. The band helps people gradually lose and control body weight by reducing the amount of food the stomach can hold.

A Lap-Band operation is done under anaesthetic in a hospital operating room. During surgery a few cuts are made in the abdomen. If no complications occur, the procedure takes about an hour.

A Lap-Band creates a small stomach pouch that initially holds about 60 mLs of food. Later on it holds up to 120 to 170 mLs. This controls the amount of food that can be eaten at any one time.

The outlet into the normal stomach and intestines is also reduced in size, so food trickles through slowly. This means people who’ve had Lap-Band surgery feel full eating only small amounts of food.

Who Can Have Lap-Banding?

Is Lap-Banding right for you? Read the check-list below.

• You must be at least 18 years old
• Your BMI is at least 40 or at least twice your ideal weight, or you weigh at least around 50 kilos more than your ideal weight
• You have been overweight for more than five years
• You have tried to lose weight in the past and have only achieved short-term success
• You are free from any other disease that may have caused you to become obese
• You are willing to make major positive changes to your eating habits and lifestyle
• You are willing to have your specialist monitor you regularly after the procedure
• You drink little or no alcohol and you are not addicted to any drugs

Who Should Not Have Lap-Banding?

There are many types of diseases, health problems or conditions that can prevent people from having Lap-Banding. These include:

• an inflammatory disease or condition of the gastrointestinal tract, such as ulcers or Crohn’s disease
• severe heart or lung disease
• pregnancy
• cirrhosis
• cancer
• allergies to the Lap-Band

Contact a Lap-Band specialist for more health problems that prevent Lap-Band surgery.

How Much Weight Might You Lose?

The amount of weight you could lose depends of a number of things. The band needs to be in the right position and you need to commit to healthy eating habits.

Lap-Bands are not miracle cures. The fat won’t come off by itself. You need to set weight loss goals from the start. During the first year you’re likely to lose about half a kilo a week. A weight loss of one to one-and-a-half kilos a week in the first year is, however, possible. After 12 to 18 months, weight loss is more gradual.

Gradual weight loss is vital. Losing weight too fast is unhealthy and can cause health problems. A main goal would be to lose weight to prevent, improve or resolve health problems linked to being overweight.

How Much Does Lap-Banding Cost?

The cost of Lap-Band surgery depends on various factors including your body weight, the surgeons, anaesthetist, hospital, ancillary charge (pharmacy and so on), whether you have private health insurance and the purchase of the Lap-Band.

The cost of a Lap-Band can start from about $5,000 if you have the right surgeon and health insurance. Without insurance the cost can be up to $17,000. Contact your surgeon for more information.

What are the Benefits of Lap-Banding?

A five-year study found that Lap-Banding has the following benefits compared to laparoscopic gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y) surgery.

• less invasive
• less risk of complications caused by the operation
• shorter operative time
• less blood loss
• shorter hospital stay
• decreased complication rates

Roux-en-Y Surgery creates a small pouch out of a portion of the stomach. This helps the person gain control over their hunger.

Other features of the Lap-Band are that it’s reversible (it can be removed) and it’s adjustable. Some experts claim that by helping to reduce people’s body weight, it is saving lives and reversing some cases of type 2 diabetes.

What are Some Possible Side-Effects?

• Eating too much food can stretch the Lap-Band pouch and cause vomiting, nausea and pain
• Infections after the operation
• The need for further surgery to re-adjust the band
• Many foods are poorly tolerated after Lap-Band surgery and should not be eaten or only eaten in small amounts
• No caffeine is allowed during the first three months after surgery
• Carbonated drinks are not recommended for people who have had Lap-Band surgery. The carbonation can cause gas, bloating and an increase in stomach size
• A modified diet is vital during the first few months after surgery

Lap-Banding can help some people with appetite and weight control. For long-term weight control, it must be combined with healthy eating and regular physical activity. See your GP for more information.



For ideas about how to keep your weight control new year's resolutions, read CalorieKing Australia's article New Year's Resolutions That Work under "Related Articles" below.

Related articles :

• New Year’s Resolutions That Work

References :

This article was compiled in consultation with CalorieKing.com.au experts and in reference to the following sources:

ABC, The 7.30 Report, ‘Surgery Offers New Hope for Obese’, http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2006/s1636596.html

About.com, ‘Women’s Health – Understanding Why You Eat’, http://womenshealth.about.com/od/fitnessandhealth/a/weightlossurg_4.htm?p=1

Carolina Weightloss Surgery, ‘How Does the Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass (Roux-en-Y) Work?’, http://www.lgbsurgery.com/howdoes.html

Health Network, 'Lap Band Surgery', http://www.healthnetwork.com.au/searchpage.asp?id=256

Lapband.com, ‘About the Lap-Band System – How it Works’, http://www.lapband.com/get_informed/about_lapband/how_it_works/

Lapband.com, ‘Lap-Band Surgery – Costs’, http://www.lapband.com.au/costs.html

Obesity Surgery Centre, ‘Lap-Band Candidates’, http://www.obesitysurgery.net.au/who-qualifies.html

Renaissance Healthcare Systems, ‘Lap-Band System Benefits’, http://www.obesehelp.net/lap-band-benefits.htm

Royal Australasian College of Physicians, ‘Media Release – The ‘Diabesity’ Epidemic: Australia’s Ticking Time Bomb – RACP Congress’, http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:SyKN5a1336EJ:www.racp.edu.au/download.cfm%3FDownloadFile%3D642B6039-005C-922C-5430F5F6B867C387+royal+australian+college+of+physicians+diabesity+epidemic+australia's+ticking+time+bomb&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=au

Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, ‘Lap-Band System’, http://www.vcu.edu/lesspainsurgery/obesity/lapband/faqs.html

www.lapband.us, ‘Lap-Band Diet’, http://www.lapband.us/lap-band-diet.html

Last updated: December 23rd, 2008