Reduces The Capacity Of Your Stomach With LAP-BAND

The Lap-Band® has an unparalleled safety record and has been used in weight loss surgeries for over 30 years.

The Lap-Band® has a lot of advantages:
● This surgery does not require any cutting or stapling of the stomach like other weight loss procedures, which means there are no permanent alterations, making it a very safe operation
● The Lap-Band® is completely reversible
● The risks involved with this surgery are much lower than that for other weight loss procedures
● The Lap-Band® is not associated with causing any vitamin or mineral deficiencies
● The surgery usually takes less than 45 minutes to complete. A faster surgery means a faster recovery. Less time in theatre means lower risk to the patient.

The main advantage of the Lap-Band® is its adjustability. The Lap-Band® can be tightened or loosened in a matter of minutes in our clinic. The surgery itself is minimally invasive, only taking around 35-45 minutes to complete. There is minimal scarring with very small incisions made. The stomach itself remains fully intact, along with the full digestive system. Unlike other obesity surgeries, the Lap-Band® is fully reversible. Should anybody wish to have the Lap-Band® removed, they will be left with a fully intact stomach and gastrointestinal tract.

Some other advantages of the Lap-Band® include:
● Very low risk
● Fully reversible (preserves stomach and bowel)
● Day-case procedure (usually)
● Proven studies show significant and durable weight loss
● Major reductions in obesity-associated health risks
● Low risks of vitamin and mineral deficiency

Some disadvantages of the Lap-Band® can include:
● Requires relatively regular attendance for adjustments (several times a year)
● Unlike sleeve or bypass, the Lap-Band® does not reduce appetite hormones
● Complications (though usually very minor) are slightly more common than other procedures.
● Health benefits are entirely dependent on weight-reduction
● Experience of the surgeon directly influences the risk of long-term
complications. Auralia surgeons have carried out thousands of surgeries

4-5 weeks after surgery

Based on the experience from past patients, the average weight loss is around 1.5 stone or 8% of your starting weight.

Long-term weight loss

Lap-Band® weight loss results vary from patient to patient. It largely depends on how well you follow the given guidelines regarding the foods you eat, exercise habits and working with your Lap-Band® to maximise your results. You should lose about 50-60% of your excess weight over the first two years. This is only an average – some people might lose more or less, depending on their own effort levels.

The Lap-Band® offers a wide variety of health benefits and can assist in positively impacting a lot of obesity-associated conditions.

Some health benefits of the Lap-Band® include:
● Reduced risk of heart attack and stroke
● Improvement in Type 2 diabetes
● Reduces fatigue and daytime sleepiness
● Reduces heartburn/acid reflux
● Helps with back or joint pain
● Improves mobility
● Improves asthma
● Helps resolve fatty liver disease
● Reduces depression and anxiety
● Improves overall quality of life 60-70% of patients also have a lower risk of premature death when compared to their obese (non-banded) peers.

When your Lap-Band® is implanted, it will usually contain minimal fluid. At this point, the focus is on recovery. About 5 weeks post-surgery, we can begin adjusting your Lap-Band® to help control your hunger and improve your weight loss.

Adjusting your Lap-Band® will also depend on how well you’re doing. If you are losing about 1-2lbs (0.5-1 kg) a week, have no issues and feel well, you’re doing fine. If your weight loss is very slow or if you have a little feeling of satiety, you may need a further adjustment. There is considerable variation in how many adjustments are required in the first 12 months. Some need one, others need five or six. But remember, more is not necessarily better. Some people think if their Lap-Band® is producing good weight loss, tightening it further will give more dramatic results. This is not true. An over-adjusted Lap-Band® can be dangerous, increasing the chance of slippage and other complications.

This is a myth. The Lap-Band® does not cause reflux (heartburn) or make existing heartburn worse. In fact, in many cases, it can improve symptoms for patients. The exception to this, however, is when a Lap-Band® is over-tightened. Reflux can become common in this scenario and quite distressing. Any patient who is getting persistent reflux with their Lap-Band® should have it loosened as soon as possible.

Major vitamin and mineral deficiencies are very uncommon with the Lap-Band®, but it is still recommended that you take your daily vitamin and mineral supplements.

One of the unique features about the Lap-Band® is that it is completely reversible. This means if you want to have a different kind of surgery and need the Lap-Band® removed, it is possible.

Some surgeries like conversion to a gastric bypass can even be done at the same time as the Lap-Band® removal.