LAP-BAND® Adjustable Gastric Banding System

The Weight Management Program at Wyoming Medical Center along with surgeons from Casper Surgical Associates now offer The LAP-BAND® Adjustable Gastric Banding System.

The LAP-BAND® Adjustable Gastric Banding System is the first U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved adjustable gastric band for use in weight reduction. Unlike gastric bypass, the LAP-BAND® System does not involve stomach cutting, stapling or re-routing of the intestine.

The surgically implanted silicone ring is placed around the top portion of your stomach creating a small pouch therefore reducing the stomachs capacity. The LAP-BAND® System is adjustable, which means the band is inflated and/or deflated with sterile saline to create the proper stomach diameter and pouch size. By adjusting the band size, LAP-BAND® System helps you achieve a level of satiety while maintaining a healthy diet. Another great benefit is the ability to reverse the procedure.

Once the band is in place, tubing connects the LAP-BAND® System to an access port fixed beneath the skin. This port allows your surgeon to add or remove sterile saline to the band. By adding sterile saline, the band will inflate making your stomach opening smaller and restricting the amount of food intake. Adjustments made to the band are based on your individual needs and may change as you begin to lose weight or you may need to gain weight for medical reasons such as pregnancy.

Adjustments made to the band are often performed by your surgeon in an office setting without surgery. During the first month you may see your surgeon up to four times for band adjustments. Then your surgeon may want to see you every four to 12 weeks during the first year.

The LAP-BAND® System helps you lose weight gradually and safely. Within the first year after the operation, it is possible to lose two to three pounds a week; however one pound a week is more likely.

The LAP-BAND® System is not for everyone. In order to be eligible for LAP-BAND® your BMI must be 40 or higher, or at least 35 with other health related conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, hypertension or asthma. Click here to find out your BMI.