The most effective way for treating morbidly obese patients is laparoscopic weight loss surgery, also known as Lap-band surgery. It is relatively a new procedure to treat obesity that uses a device called the Lap-band adjustable gastric banding system. The Lap band is an inflatable banding system that is placed around the upper stomach to limit food intake in severely obese individuals. It induces weight-loss by reducing the capacity of the stomach, which restricts the amount of food that can be consumed.

Patients considered for weight loss surgery must be at least 100 pounds overweight and have a BMI of at least 40. And you must have tried unsuccessfully for five years or longer to lose weight utilizing other methods.

During the surgery, surgeons usually use laparoscopic techniques to implant an inflatable silicone band into the patient’s abdomen. Then the band is fastened around the upper stomach to create a new, tiny stomach pouch that limits and controls the amount of food you eat. By creating a smaller gastric pouch, the band limits the amount of food that the stomach will hold at any time. The inflatable ring controls the flow of food from this smaller pouch to the rest of the stomach and the intestines. As a result, patients experience a sense of fullness in their stomach and are satisfied with smaller amounts of food. This, in turn, results in weight loss.

The band is adjusted via a small access port placed just under the skin. Saline solution is introduced into the band via the port; hence, the band expands placing pressure around the outside of the stomach. This decreases the size of the passage into the stomach and restricts the movement of food.

During the first three to four days after surgery, the patient will be on a clear liquid diet following by a modified liquid for four to five weeks. In the subsequent six weeks, the patient will be able to eat foods such as vegetables, salad, fruits etc. However, the important thing is that whatever you eat, eat in small portions, chew properly and take small bites.

Since there is no cutting, stapling involved in lap band surgery, it is considered to be less traumatic of all weight loss surgeries, hence shorter hospitalization. There is no post-operative pain in this kind of surgery and you will get a quick recovery. And if for any reason you want to remove the band, the stomach returns to its original shape.

Weight-loss results vary from patient to patient and the amount of weight you lose depends on several things. The band needs to be in the right position and you need to be committed to your new lifestyles and eating habits. You must set achievable weight-loss goal from the beginning. A weight loss of 3 to 4 pounds a week in the first year of operation is possible, but after one year, weekly weight loss is usually less. Losing weight too fast can create a number of health problems.