(Lap-Band®) or Johnson & Johnson Band – An Adjustable Surgical Weight Loss Procedure

Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding, more commonly known as Lapband or Johnson & Johnson Band are surgeries that are designed to help morbidly obese patients to lose weight and maintain their weight loss.  Surgeons reduce the size of the stomach so that it can store smaller amounts of food at a time.  An adjustable gastric band made of silicone material is surgically placed around the top section of the stomach.  This creates a little pouch that regulates how much food you can eat and reduces the amount of food that is processed in the intestines.  The silicone band contains an inflatable balloon that can be adjusted through an access port that has been installed underneath the skin of abdomen.  The surgeon can adjust the band by injecting saline into the port.  After a patient has had the surgery, they will begin to feel full and contented even after eating very small portions of food.  This drastic reduction in food consumption results in losing large amounts of weight. 

Lapband or Johnson & Johnson Band surgery is a laparoscopic procedure.  Traditional weight loss surgeries require a large incision that typically runs the length of the abdomen.  Laparoscopic surgery requires four to six tiny incisions, about 1 cm each, which are closed using dissolving sutures.  As result, there is a very short recovery period.  Most people are able to return to their normal activities in a week or less following the surgery.  The surgery is performed under general anesthesia and typically takes between 30 minutes to one hour. After surgery it is important that you eat small healthy meals every day and thoroughly chew your food.  Adding protein to your diet will make you feel full for long period of time.  Drinking a minimum of eight glasses of water each day is also important. 

There are many advantages to choosing Lapband or Johnson & Johnson Band surgery to aid in weight loss.  Because this is a laparoscopic surgery, the incisions are tiny and the recovery time in short.  This surgery does not invade the gastrointestinal tract which helps to prevent infections from occurring.  The band can be adjusted as your needs change and the procedure is reversible.

Lapband or Johnson & Johnson Band surgery works well for both men and woman of all ages.  This surgery is most effective for people that are between 50 to 200 pounds overweight.  The hospital stay is very short, usually 24 hours or less.  For additional information, please contact us.