Placement of a Laparoscopic Band is a fairly straightforward procedure that is accomplished by placing the Band, which is a belt-like section of plastic, around the upper stomach to create a tiny stomach pouch. The Band creates a calibrated narrowing at the bottom of this tiny new stomach, so that it is easy to fill up with small amounts of food. This good sensation of fullness is called “satiety.”
The key thing about the Band that is placed around the stomach is that it is adjustable. Adjustment is accomplished by means of a balloon that lines the inside of the Band. On the day of surgery, when the Band is placed, the balloon is empty and this provides only a slight restriction to eating. Over the weeks and months following surgery the balloon within the Band is gradually filled (outlet is tightened) to provide progressively increasing restriction that is matched or “tuned” to each patient.
The balloon adjustment is accomplished using an access port (which is buried under the skin) to increase or decrease the amount of saline fluid contained in the balloon. The Band is pictured in its normal position on the upper stomach on the left..
There are several key features that make the Laparoscopic Band an attractive surgical technique for weight loss:
- laparoscopic placement
- no division or anastomosis of stomach or bowel
- removable
- adjustable
