by 
The Curious Bag
-
The Lap-Band, or adjustable gastric banding system, has become a popular weight loss option for obese patients. Many of these patients also suffer from other conditions that can be improved by weight loss, like sleep apnea, diabetes or hypertension. But before undergoing any type of surgery, it is important to know how it works and how it will affect you.
Stomach Banding
The band is placed around the upper portion of your stomach, creating a separation from the rest of the stomach. This upper "pouch" fills up quickly with food when you eat, allowing you to feel full sooner.
Digestion
After you eat, the food in the upper part of the stomach will begin to empty down into the lower part, where it will be digested.
Adjustments
The Lap-Band is made to adjust, so your doctor can increase or decrease the width of the band, allowing food to digest either more quickly or more slowly.
Advantages
Lap-Band surgery is minimally-invasive--done with two to five small incisions in the abdomen--and causes less pain and scarring. For most patients, it also results in shorter recovery times than traditional surgery.
Risks/Side Effects
As with any surgery, there is risk of scarring and injury. In the days and weeks immediately following the procedure, there is a chance that patients are not getting the proper nutrition from their meals, but that can be solved by adjusting the band.
Source:
RELATED QUESTIONS
Copyright 2023, Wired Ivy, LLC