Gastric band

Frequently asked questions

The LAP-BAND™ system is the world’s most widely used adjustable gastric band with almost 15 years of proven experience and over 300,000 patients to date. There is a wealth of clinical evidence to support its efficacy and safety and it is therefore the first choice of hundreds of surgeons around the world today.

Allergan the manufacturers of the LAP-BAND system have issued a clinical review paper stating that the LAP-BAND has become the first bariatric device in Europe to have official endorsement of its effect on type 2 diabetes in obese patients as a result of surgically induced weight loss.

The LAP-BAND™ system is an adjustable gastric band designed to help patients lose excess body weight, improve weight-related health conditions and enhance quality of life. It reduces the stomach capacity and restricts the amount of food that can be consumed at one time. The Gastric Band procedure does not require stomach cutting and stapling or gastrointestinal surgery. It is an adjustable and reversible weight-loss surgery and suitable for permanent or long term placement in the body.

The band itself is a silicone ring designed to be placed around the upper part of the stomach and filled with saline on its inner surface. This creates a new, smaller stomach pouch that can hold only a small amount of food, so the food storage area in the stomach is reduced. The band also controls the stoma (stomach outlet) between the new upper pouch and the lower part of the stomach. When the stomach is smaller, you feel full faster, while the food moves more slowly between your upper and lower stomach as it is digested. As a result, you eat less and lose weight. The ultimate portion controller!

During the procedure, the surgeon uses laparoscopic techniques (making tiny incisions rather than a large incision and inserting long-shafted instruments through “ports”), to wrap the band around the patient’s stomach. A narrow camera is passed through the port so the surgeon can view the operative site on a TV monitor. Like a wristwatch, the band is fastened around the upper stomach to create the new stomach pouch that limits and controls the amount of food you eat. The band is then locked securely in a ring around the stomach. This surgery will be performed as an overnight procedure in a private hospital at by a leading Gastric Surgery expert.

Prices start from £7500

Frequently asked questions

Am I suitable for the gastric band?

You may be suitable for the LAP-BAND™ system if you are: -

At least 18 years of age
Your Body Mass Index (BMI) is over 35 - 40 or you weight at least twice your ideal weight
You have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes
You have been overweight for more than 5 years
Your serious weight loss attempts have had only short-term success
You are not suffering from any other diseases that may have caused obesity
You are prepared to make substantial changes in your eating habits and lifestyle
You are willing to continue being monitored by the specialist treating you.
You do not drink alchohol in excess.

How is the gastric band inserted?

The LAP-BAND™ system is usually placed laparpscopically under general anaesthesia. The key advantage of this type of surgery is that it requires only small incisions which means that the healing process is much faster and with less pain and less risk of complications plus minimal scarring.

During the procedure, the surgeon inserts long-shafted instruments through the small incisions or “ports”, to wrap the band around the patient’s stomach. A narrow camera is passed through the port so the surgeon can view the operative site on a TV monitor. Like a wristwatch, the band is fastened around the upper stomach to create the new stomach pouch that limits and controls the amount of food you eat. The band is then locked securely in a ring around the stomach.

This surgery will be performed as an overnight procedure at The Highgate Hospital by leading Gastric Surgery expert Professor Nadey Hakim.

How long is the recovery period having a gastric band?

If the LAP-BAND™ system is performed laparoscopically, patients typically spend less than 24 – 48 hours in hospital. It usually takes about one week before you can return to work and it can take 4 – 6 weeks to resume exercising.

How much weight can I expect to lose?

Weight loss obviously varies from patient to patient and the amount of weight you can lose depends on several things. The band needs to be in the right position and you need to be committed to your new lifestyle and eating habits.

The main goal is to have weight loss that prevents, improves or resolves health problems connected to severe obesity. Obesity surgery however is not a miracle cure and the weight will not come off by itself and therefore it is important that you are set achievable weight loss goals from the beginning.

You can expect to lose a weight loss of 0.5 to 1 kg per week in the first 12 months after the operation but more realistically you can expect to lose 0.5 kg per week.

Remember that losing weight gradually is a better way to lose weight and losing weight quickly can result in associated health risks and can lead to a number of problems.

Are there any side effects to a gastric band?

The LAP-BAND™ system limits food intake. If you feel nauseous or sick on a regular basis, it may mean that you are not chewing your food well enough or that you are not following the diet rules properly.

When will the first adjustment need to take place?

The first adjustment will typically take place 4 – 6 weeks after surgery. Your adjustments may take place under x-ray so that the surgeon can easily locate the access port.
Further adjustments will take place over the coming months, with a small amount of saline being added each time, until such time as your surgeon is confident that you have reached your optimal level of restriction.

Can the band be removed?

Although the LAP-BAND™ system is designed to be effective for life, it can be removed in some cases. Surgeons report that the stomach generally returns to its original shape once the band is removed.

The Gastric Band is an adjustable gastric band designed to help patients lose excess body weight, improve weight-related health conditions and enhance quality of life. It reduces the stomach capacity and restricts the amount of food that can be consumed at one time. The Gastric Band procedure does not require stomach cutting and stapling or gastrointestinal surgery. It is an adjustable and reversible weight-loss surgery and suitable for permanent or long term placement in the body.

During the procedure, the surgeon uses laparoscopic techniques (making tiny incisions rather than a large incision and inserting long-shafted instruments through “ports”), to wrap the band around the patient’s stomach. A narrow camera is passed through the port so the surgeon can view the operative site on a TV monitor. Like a wristwatch, the band is fastened around the upper stomach to create the new stomach pouch that limits and controls the amount of food you eat. The band is then locked securely in a ring around the stomach. This surgery will be performed as an overnight procedure at The Highgate Hospital by leading Gastric Surgery expert Professor Nadey Hakim.