Lap-Band® Surgery Cost and Procedure Guide

Who Is a Good Candidate for Lap-Band Surgery?

Lap-Band is a surgical treatment for those with severe obesity. Ideal candidates for Lap-Band may include those who:¹

• Have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher
• Have a BMI of 35 or greater along with an obesity-related condition, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure or other serious cardiopulmonary issues
• Have not had long-term success losing weight with other methods

Benefits of Lap-Band Surgery

Although there are many different types of bariatric surgery to consider, Lap-Band offers several benefits:⁵

• Band can be adjusted without additional surgery
• Less expensive than some other bariatric procedures³
• Minimally invasive procedure¹
• No “dumping syndrome” (diarrhea and nausea caused by food moving too quickly from the stomach to the small intestine, which can happen with bariatric procedures that shorten the digestive tract)
• Reduced chance of nutritional deficiencies compared to other bariatric procedures

How Does Lap-Band Surgery Work?

Here’s what you can expect before, during and after a Lap-Band procedure.

Preparation

Bariatric surgeries like Lap-Band require both physical and mental preparation for the eating and lifestyle changes that are required for weight loss success.

Before a Lap-Band procedure, your doctor will likely require preoperative tests or evaluations, which may include:⁶

• Bariatric surgery education classes to learn about the post-procedure changes to your body and diet
• Blood work
• Endoscopy¹
• General physical examination
• Mental health evaluation
• Nutritional counseling

If you smoke, you will asked to stop smoking in the weeks before the procedure and to share with your medical team any vitamins, supplements or medications you are taking.⁶

Although bariatric surgery requires you to prepare to make physical changes in your eating habits, it’s just as important to prepare mentally for the changes and challenges that can come during recovery. Some surgery centers may require nutritional counseling and support groups to help you understand and adjust to the quantity of food that can be consumed, redefine fullness and how to handle social eating situations.

Procedure

The Lap-Band procedure takes 30 to 60 minutes and is usually performed as an outpatient procedure.⁶ After receiving general anesthesia, the surgeon will make several small incisions on the upper abdomen to insert the laparoscope — a thin tube with a camera — and the needed surgical instruments.¹

The surgeon will then use the surgical tools to place a silicone band filled with saline around the upper stomach to make a pouch. A small port with a tube connected to the silicone band will be placed under the skin of the abdomen, allowing the tightness of the band and therefore the size of the stomach to be adjusted by adding or removing saline. The surgeon will then close any incisions.¹

Recovery

After a Lap-Band procedure, you must follow a liquid-only diet for the first one to two weeks. You will then gradually transition to pureed food, very soft foods and then eventually regular food by six weeks post-surgery. Your surgical team will provide you with a schedule of when to transition.⁶

During the healing process and transition to solid food, it is important to eat very small meals, chew well and eat slowly.¹

You will have follow-up appointments to oversee the healing process, check for nutritional deficiencies and discuss adjusting the tightness of the band. Based on weight loss progress or issues with being able to keep food down, the surgeon may use the port to tighten or loosen the band, adjusting the size of your stomach.¹

Possible Side Effects of Lap-Band Surgery

There are a variety of potential side effects from Lap-Band surgery. Although it is a minimally invasive procedure, there are still possible complications from the surgery, including blood clots, infection or reaction to the anesthesia.⁶

Lap-Band itself also comes with potential complications, including:⁶

• Band intolerance or infection
• Band slippage
• Heartburn or stomach ulcers
• Internal scarring
• Movement, flipping, infection or other issues with the port
• Nutritional deficiencies

Although the Lap-Band procedure has relatively few short-term side effects, an estimated 15% to 60% of patients will have long-term complications that require additional operations for adjustments, repositioning or removal.⁷ In those cases, ask your surgeon about alternative gastric procedures that might be more suitable.

Lap-Band Surgery Results

Lap-Band is not an overnight weight loss solution. The procedure works slowly over time to help patients lose roughly 40% to 50% of their excess body weight within the first three years of the surgery.⁸

Final results from Lap-Band surgery are often slower and lower than some other gastric surgeries. Results will also vary based on an individual's starting weight, tolerance of the Lap-Band, adherence to eating guidelines and other lifestyle factors.⁶

Although Lap-Band is designed to be a permanent solution to address weight loss, data shows that more than half of all bands are removed within 10 years of the initial procedure due to complications or unsatisfactory weight loss.⁹

Alternatives to Lap-Band Surgery

Lap-Band is just one type of bariatric procedure to consider. If you're interested in weight loss surgeries, you may also want to discuss other surgical options with your doctor. Two of the most popular procedures include gastric sleeve and gastric bypass surgery.