The BioEnterics LAP-BAND Adjustable Gastric Banding System (INAMED Health, Santa Barbara, CA) is the newest surgical treatment for morbid obesity in the United States. It induces weight loss by reducing the capacity of the stomach, thereby restricting the amount of food that can be consumed at one time.

Of all the restrictive operations performed on the stomach, by far the safest and least invasive is the placement of the LAPBAND. This band has a number of advantages over all other methods.

The greatest benefit this band offers is that it is adjustable, in the Doctor's rooms, by the simple insertion of a fine needle through the abdominal skin into the reservoir which is firmly sewn onto the six pack, rectus abdominis, muscle. This allows for the band to be tightened, or loosened, so that the pouch volume is restricted and the outlet narrowed so that the intake of calories/kilojoules is controlled.  Satiety or fullness is also accomplished and together with a gentle exercise regime, the weight loss begins.

The Band is placed about the upper stomach and sewn in place by laparoscopic means, in the majority of cases. This means that there generally is no large incision but a number of smaller ones, up to six as a rule, with the largest, where the reservoir is inserted, being about 4-5 cms long. This also means less pain post-operatively and a quicker recovery with a lesser period of time off work, one to two weeks being the norm.

The ability to adjust the band also means that when people travel abroad, for example, they may choose to have the reservoir emptied so that they are not embarrassed by vomiting or do not have to avoid foods of the Country they are visiting and miss some of the culinary pleasures of that place.

The Band can be fairly easily removed if there is a need and once again, this can generally be done by laparoscopic means. Any weight lost might rapidly be regained should this removal be necessary, unless the good dieting and exercise habits instilled in patients during this sojourn are adhered to.

Solid silastin, of which this band and reservoir are constructed, has not been shown to be irritating or reactive and no known side effects or complications due to Silastin have been demonstrated.        

FOR MANY PEOPLE THE ONLY SOLUTION TO OBESITY IN THE LONG TERM IS PLACEMENT OF A LAPAROSCOPIC BAND