What is Lapband Surgery?
http://www.mylapbandsurgery.comTo change the size of the stoma, the inner surface of the band can be adjusted by adding or removing saline. This process is called inflating or deflating. Saline is a salty solution like other fluids in your body.The band is connected by a tube to an access port placed beneath the skin during surgery. Later, the surgeon can control the amount of saline in the band by piercing the access port through the skin with a fine needle. If the band is too loose and weight loss too small, adding more saline can reduce the size of the stoma. If the band is too tight, the surgeon will remove some saline. This too can be done without more surgery.
Being able to adjust the band is a unique feature of the LAP-BAND System and is a normal part of the follow-up. If adjusting the band does not help you lose weight the way you and your doctor want it to, or if the band is still too tight, another surgery may be needed. The Band position on the stomach can be changed or the size of the upper stomach pouch can be reduced.
The LAP-Band System’s adjustable band is a silicone elastomer hollow ring filled with saline and placed around the upper part of the stomach. This creates a new small stomach pouch, with the large part of the stomach below the band. This way, the food storage area in the stomach is reduced. The pouch above the band can hold only a small amount of food.
The band also controls the stoma (stomach outlet) between the two parts of the stomach. The size of the opening between the two parts of the stomach controls the flow rate of the food from the upper to the lower part of the stomach.
This lets you feel full sooner. The feeling also lasts longer.How is the LAP-BAND System placed around the stomach?The LAP-BAND System is usually placed laparoscopically.The Laparoscopic surgery requires general anesthesia. First the surgeon makes a few small incisions in the abdominal wall and inserts narrow, hollow tubes. The surgical instruments are then passed through the tubes. The surgeon can see inside the abdomen by using a small camera that also goes through the tubes. The picture the camera takes is shown on a monitor that is like a TV screen.
This technique is called “laparoscopy” and is considered “minimally invasive.” A small tunnel is made behind the top of the stomach. Then the band is pulled around the stomach to form a ring. The band has a locking part which securely holds the band in a circle around the stomach.There are clear advantages to this kind of surgery.
In an “open” surgery, a larger incision is made. After a laparoscopic surgery, most people feel much less pain. There are fewer wound complications. Patients also recover faster and are able to resume normal activities sooner.Sometimes, for a variety of reasons, the surgeon may need to make a larger incision to place the LAP-Band System. The surgeon may need to make a larger incision to place the LAP-BAND System.
The surgeon may need to decide this during the operation. Both techniques are discussed in this booklet. You and your surgeon should decide together what plan is best for you.
