Welcome to a New Beginning…
It is our pleasure to announce Lap-Band® Weight Loss Surgery at Beautologie Medical Group.

About the Procedure
The Lap-Band® is laparoscopically implanted into the patient’s abdomen. The band is fastened around the upper stomach to create a new, tiny stomach pouch that limits and controls the amount of food you eat.

Lap-Band® weight loss surgery is an out-patient procedure under general anesthesia, right here in our fully accredited operating room. Gastric lap band surgery, as it is commonly referred to, will be performed laparoscopically through five small one centimeter incisions in the stomach. The band part of the LAP-BAND® will be fastened around the upper part of your stomach. This will create a small pouch. Part of the lower stomach will then be sutured over the band. The rest of the lower stomach will stay in its normal position. The access port for adjusting the band will be placed under your skin. To do this, the surgeon will slightly enlarge one of the incisions. Patients will be under anesthesia for the short one hour procedure. When first placing the band, your surgeon usually leaves the band empty or partially inflated. This lets you get acquainted with the band for your first few weeks after surgery. It also lets the healing occur around the band site.

Who is a candidate for Lap-Band® Surgery?
· You are 18 – 65 years of age
· You are at least 75 pounds over weight
· BMI of 30 -50
· You are not suffering from any other disease that may have caused your obesity
· You do not abuse drugs or alcohol

You must have a complete understanding of the procedure, the risks and possible complications, and the lifelong changes in eating habits.

Advantages of the Lap-Band® System
· Minimally invasive surgery
· No cutting or stapling. The stomach stays intact
· Nutrients and vitamins are fully absorbed
· No “dumping syndrome”
· Adjustable
· Reversible
· Out-patient surgery
· Return to light duty work in 3 days

During your consultation we will go over all the details of your surgery and your recovery period with you so you will be prepared. We are committed to provide our patients support before, during and after their Lap-Band® surgery.

What is the LAP-BAND® Adjustable Gastric Banding System?

The LAP-BAND® System (Allergan, Inc, Irvine, CA) is safe, minimally invasive, adjustable and reversible surgical treatment for morbid obesity.
It induces weight loss by reducing the capacity of the stomach, thereby restricting the amount of food that can be consumed at one time.

Minimally Invasive Weight-Loss Surgery

Like a wrist-watch, the LAP-BAND® System is fastened around the upper stomach to create a new, small stomach pouch. As a result, patients experience an earlier sensation of fullness and are satisfied with smaller amounts of food. There is no cutting, stapling, or stomach re-routing involved in the LAP-BAND® System procedure. The surgeon makes several tiny incisions and uses long, slender instruments to implant the device. By avoiding the large incision of open surgery, patients generally experience less pain and scarring. The LAP-BAND® System surgery has 10 times lower short-term mortality rate than gastric bypass.1 If LAP-BAND® System surgery is performed laparoscopically, patients typically spend less than 6 hours in the Surgery Center. Most patients return to work in 3 days to about a week, and to exercise in about a month to 6 weeks.

Adjustable Treatment

The LAP-BAND® System is an adjustable silicone band with an inflatable inner surface. It is connected to an access port below the skin surface by thin, kink-resistant silicone tubing. The port allows the surgeon to adjust the size of the LAP-BAND® System to meet individual patient weight loss needs by adding or removing saline to inflate or deflate the band. This impacts the amount and consumption rate of food. Adjustments to the LAP-BAND® System, which are performed during simple outpatient visits, are determined by the patient’s weight loss, the amount of food that can be comfortably eaten, the exercise regimen, and other issues surrounding the patient’s health, as well as the amount of fluid already in the patient’s band.

Reversible Procedure

Although the LAP-BAND® Adjustable Gastric Banding System is not meant to be removed, it can be, in some cases laparoscopically. Surgeons report that the stomach generally returns to its original shape once the LAP-BAND® System is removed. After the removal, though, you may gain more weight. There is an additional cost if removed.

Living with the LAP-BAND® System

The effectiveness of the LAP-BAND® System depends on the success of the surgical procedure and the ability of the patient to change his or her diet and eating behavior. Clinicians offering the LAP-BAND® System treatment have committed to being able to provide long-term care for their patients, including dietary, behavior-modification, and counseling support. After surgery, LAP-BAND® System patients must maintain scheduled follow-up visits. Many surgeons see their patients weekly or biweekly during the first month and every 4 to 12 weeks for the first year. Adjustments may be performed during some of these visits. It is typical for follow-up visits to be scheduled every 3 to 6 months during the second and third year, depending on the individual case.

Patients are encouraged to eat a balanced diet and to avoid the problematic eating patterns of their pre-surgery lifestyle. The restrictive effect of the LAP-BAND® System produces feelings of early satiety and longer-lasting fullness. This reinforces the patient’s ability to be content with smaller meals when solid food is eaten and well chewed. At the appropriate time, patients are encouraged to increase physical activity and exercise, which is very important to weight loss, good health, and improved quality of life.

The LAP-BAND® System is FDA-Approved

The Food and Drug Administration approved the LAP-BAND® System in June 2001. In line with its FDA-approved guidelines for indications, the LAP-BAND® System is intended for people who are 18 years old or older and are 75 pounds overweight, have a BMI of 40 or more (or 35+ with one or more serious obesity-related health conditions). The term “morbidly” connotes the fact that individuals who carry this much excess weight face an increased risk of developing a number of serious health conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and osteoarthritis.

For more information about the LAP-BAND® System or to find out If you or someone you know can benefit from this procedure, please call Suzie Martinez, Weight Loss Coordinator at 661-327-3800.