Lap-Band Surgery | Nashvile Weight Loss Solutions
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Lap-Band® Surgery

         Lap-Band® surgery promotes weight loss primarily through volume restriction.  A soft, silicone band is placed around the upper-most stomach, creating a small adjustable outlet that allows for management of the rate at which food travels from the upper to the lower stomach.  Band constriction causes food to slowly pass from the upper pouch into the rest of the stomach and leads to a prolonged sense of fullness with much less hunger. Through good nutrition and smaller portion sizes, patients are satisfied with smaller meals.  Depending on your unique needs, Lap-Band® surgery can be an excellent tool for gaining long-term control of your weight.

Ideal Candidates

Lap-Band® surgery may be particularly suited for persons of relatively lower BMI (30-40) who wish to have a quicker recovery, less operative risk, and the ability to undergo a surgical procedure that is both adjustable and removable.  The gastric band is for people who like to have fine-tuned control over their weight loss program.  Most people can return to work quickly in 2-3 days.  Although Lap-Band® weight loss effects may not be as profound or rapid as the gastric bypass or gastric sleeve, the lap band has the shortest recovery time and best control.

Advantages

  • Minimally invasive: inserted laparoscopically, without the usual large incision.

  • Restrictive: full with smaller portions and stay full longer.

  • Infection and complications are reduced: Does not require any opening in the gastrointestinal tract.

  • No stapling or permanent changes to the stomach.

  • No hospitalization: patients go home from surgery the same day.

  • Adjustable: Provides a customizable weight loss management tool (unlike gastric bypass or sleeve).

  • Reversible, if necessary.

Lap Band Surgery Nashville
Disadvantages

  • Frequent visits are required to adjust the band.

  • Slower weight loss compared to gastric sleeve or gastric bypass.

  • Foreign device: a significant percentage of bands are removed due to mechanical failure.

Procedure and Adjustments

Lap-Band® surgery is a minimally-invasive (laparoscopic) procedure, which includes very small incisions allowing abdominal access with small instruments.  This approach leads to reduced pain, less scarring, and faster recovery.  The surgery takes about 45 minutes to perform and the majority of patients go home the same day.  

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The Lap-Band® operation involves placing a soft, silastic band around the upper part of the stomach.  The band essentially separates the stomach into two parts: a tiny upper pouch and a larger lower pouch.  The band is connected by tubing to a port or reservoir that sits below the skin of the abdominal wall, in the deep subcutaneous tissue (port cannot be seen from the outside).  Inside of the band is a balloon that can be filled by placing sterile saline through the port.  As the balloon is filled, it slows the passage of food from the upper pouch into the lower pouch, creating a small pouch that significantly restricts the amount of food that can enter the stomach.  

 

Adjustments or "fills" are done every 4-6 weeks after surgery until the band is in the "sweet spot" (full with very small meals and minimal hunger).  You will work with your surgeon to determine the number of band fills or adjustments appropriate for you.

Am I a Candidate?

Visit our Pathway to Surgery page to find out if you are a candidate for bariatric surgery, see if your insurance will cover bariatric surgery, and learn how to take the next step.  

What is Gastric Band Aftercare?

In most cases, Nashville Weight Loss Solutions will provide a home for patients who have undergone gastric banding surgery by other surgeons.  Whether you’ve lived here all your life or you have recently moved to the Greater Nashville area, consider us a resource for your gastric band management needs:

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  • Gastric Band Complications

  • Gastric Band Fills and Unfills

  • Gastric Band Diet and Nutrition Management

  • Gastric Band Revision and Removal Surgery

  • Gastric Band Conversion to Gastric Sleeve, Gastric Bypass, or Duodenal Switch

To learn more about Lap-Band® Surgery or to inquire about Gastric Band Aftercare, please call us at (615) 342-5820 or complete our contact form.

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