Lap-Band Facts

The LAP-BAND® Adjustable Gastric Banding System is the first U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved adjustable gastric band for use in weight reduction. Used in more than 300,000 procedures worldwide, this simple reversible surgically implanted device has safely helped severely obese adults successfully achieve and maintain long-term weight loss. The LAP-BAND® System was approved by the FDA in June 2001 for severely obese adults with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or more or for adults with a BMI of at least 35 plus at least one severe obesity-related health condition, such as Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and asthma.

How the LAP-BAND® Adjustable Gastric Banding System Works:

The LAP-BAND® System was developed to facilitate long-term weight loss and reduce the health risks associated with severe and morbid obesity. Unlike gastric bypass, it does not involve stomach cutting, stapling or intestinal re-routing. , , Using laparoscopic surgical techniques, the device is placed around the top portion of the patient’s stomach, creating a small pouch. By reducing stomach capacity, the LAP-BAND® System can help achieve long-term weight loss by creating an earlier feeling of satiety. The LAP-BAND® System is adjustable, which means that the inflatable band can be tightened or loosened to help the patient achieve a level of satiety while maintaining a healthy diet. It is also reversible and can be removed at any time.

Key Benefits of the LAP-BAND®System over Gastric Bypass:

Safer, Less Invasive Surgical Option:

  • The LAP-BAND® System can be applied to the top portion of the stomach laparoscopically using keyhole surgery, which offers the advantages of reduced pain, length of hospital stay and recovery period1,2
  • The LAP-BAND® System procedure has a lower severe complication rate perioperatively (less than 1 percent) and lower mean short-term mortality rate (0.05 percent, approximately 1/10 the mortality rate of gastric bypass)3
  • The LAP-BAND® System carries fewer risks of vitamin and mineral deficiencies than gastric bypass
  • The LAP-BAND® System has non-surgical adjustments that help the patient attain and maintain a healthy satiety level and minimize the potential for weight regain
  • The LAP-BAND® System is reversible and it can be removed at any time

LAP-BAND®System Effectiveness:

In clinical studies of severely obese patients, the LAP-BAND® System has been demonstrated to be an effective surgical method for weight loss, improving co-morbid conditions such as Type 2 diabetes and hypertension and reducing the use of medication to treat those conditions
Adjustibility helps patients sustain long-term weight loss benefits

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