The LAP-BAND® System
The LAP-BAND® System is a safe, effective, and well-established surgical option for severely obese patients.
Over 600,000 LAP-BAND® Systems have been sold worldwide, with data supported by more than 1,850 publications and references with up to 10 years of follow-up.12
Click to watch an animation of the LAP-BAND® System process.
Unlike gastric bypass surgery, the LAP-BAND® System is minimally invasive, adjustable and reversible. An inflatable silicone band is placed around the upper part of the stomach, creating a new small upper stomach pouch and narrowed stoma.
The size of the stoma can be changed by adding or removing saline from the band, thus controlling the flow rate of food from the upper to lower part of the stomach.
No cutting or stapling of the stomach is required, and because the stomach and intestines are not bypassed, there is little risk of vitamin or mineral deficiencies.
Comparable weight loss with the LAP-BAND® System and open gastric bypass surgery is observed at three years post-surgery and beyond.11,13
Post-operative Health Improvements from Surgically-induced Weight Loss Include:
- Based on four studies up to 90% improvement of asthma, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, and gastroesophageal reflux14,15,16,17
- 79% resolution or improvement of hypertension based on a subset of obese, diabetic patients15
- Reduction in medication usage for obesity-related conditions6
- Surgically-induced weight loss, in general, is also associated with resolved or improved:18
