Adjustable Gastric Lap Band Surgery

The Adjustable Gastric Band simply acts like a belt around the top portion of your stomach, creating a small pouch.

Since the digestive system anatomy has not been modified, the band only helps you to reduce weight by restricting the amount of food you eat.

Once the surgery procedure begins the band is inserted through laparoscopy and secured in place around your upper stomach to restrict the opening to the main part of your stomach.

The band is secured by a locking device to prevent slippage.

Now the stomach looks like an "hour-glass"; the opening between the two parts of your stomach is often referred to as a "stoma".

The band is connected by tubing to a reservoir (also called a port) usually anchored deep under your skin on one side of your abdomen below your ribs, or at the base of your breast bone.

This port allows the band to be adjusted so the amount of food you eat and the rate at which it passes through the stoma is controlled, so you will feel full after eating only small quantities.

Be aware that since the digestive system anatomy remains untouched, the results are not always as beneficial as with other bariatric surgery techniques.