Lap Band Surgery

bariatric-surgery-la-peer-healthWhen patients come to us for help losing weight, our expert bariatric surgeons in Los Angeles can help determine what the best course of treatment will be for their unique cases. Housing a team of world-renowned surgeons ready to help you achieve your goals, La Peer Health Systems offers several different kinds of procedures that are geared towards helping a person reach an ideal and healthy weight, including the lap band procedure.

What Is an Adjustable Weight Loss Band?

The adjustable gastric band, also known as a lap band or Realize band, is used to aid in the weight loss of obese patients who have a body mass index (BMI) greater than 35. The lap band itself is made of inflated silicone and is placed around the stomach in order to slow food consumption and reduce the amount of food that a person eats.

At La Peer Health Systems, our surgeons perform the adjustable band procedure through a minimally invasive surgery, which requires only small incisions to be made near the belly button and abdomen. Using a laparoscopic camera, our doctors place the lap band in the proper position around the top of the stomach. The recovery time following this procedure is generally quick, with patients feeling better in only a couple of weeks. The adjustable band procedure can be performed as an outpatient surgery, meaning patients can return home the very same day or next morning to rest and recover in their own comfort zones. Post surgery, it’s recommended that the patient follow a healthy and proportionate diet as directed.

Once the lap band is in place, it can be tightened or loosened over the course of the next several months and years to reach an optimal size that will help the patient achieve an ideal and healthy weight.

Patients with the following characteristics may be ideal candidates to undergo the lap band procedure:

  • BMI over 35, though other patients may be considered under special circumstances
  • Inability to lose weight with diet or exercise

Benefits of Lap Band Surgery

The ultimate goal of lap band surgery is to make a person feel full quicker so they aren’t eating nearly as much as they would have prior to the surgery. Because the adjustable band works to restrict food intake, individuals often notice an improvement in weight loss in just a few months. Other benefits of the procedure include:

  • Steady, Healthy Weight Loss
  • Fast-Working
  • Completely Safe
  • Minimally Invasive
  • Removable

Revision Surgery

If a patient decides to have the adjustable weight loss band removed for any reason, La Peer Health Systems can perform adjustable band removal surgery. Though some believe that this is an easy, routine procedure, ensuring patient safety requires the help of multiple specialists including bariatric surgeons, nutritionists, anesthesiologists, and gastroenterologists. Fortunately, all of these experts can be found at La Peer.

Reasons for removing the band may include:

  • Inadequate weight loss
  • Intolerance
  • Pain
  • Erosion into stomach or other organs

Our surgeons plan carefully before performing adjustable band revision surgeries, as these procedures are generally much more difficult than the initial procedure.

Lap Band FAQ

Our surgeons understand that making the decision to undergo bariatric surgery to help control your weight comes with a lot of questions and concerns. Our team of experts wants to help you make the best choice for your unique case. Listed below are some of the most common questions that we hear. Should you have additional questions about your potential surgery, we welcome inquiries by phone or email.

Q: Is the lap band procedure safe?

A: The lap band procedure is not the most safe bariatric surgery option, though it can offer good results for the right candidates who are serious about losing weight. For additional surgical weight-loss procedures, contact the La Peer Bariatric Surgery Department at (855) 360-9119.

Q: How is the lap band tightened?

A: The lap band is tightened by your physician in the office or with the help of ultrasound or x-rays if needed. Your doctor can access the lap band with the help of a needle that will access the port that is attached to your abdominal wall, a fact which makes the band easily adjustable.

Q: Is the lap band procedure covered by insurance?

A: This depends entirely on the type of insurance that you have. In a lot of cases, insurance companies cover a portion of the surgery cost, but require the patient to pay the rest.

Q: Who should perform lap band surgery?

A: An experienced bariatric surgeon should always perform the minimally invasive lap band procedure. At La Peer Health Systems, our doctors have years of experience in assisting patients with their weight loss goals.

Q: How much weight will I lose after receiving my lap band?

A: Because each patient is different, weight loss tends to depend on each patient and his or her unique goals. If a patient is committed to proper eating habits and sticking to a healthy lifestyle, there is no reason why you cannot reach your ultimate goal in weight loss.

Contact a Bariatric Surgeon in Los Angeles

At La Peer Health Systems, our world-renowned bariatric surgeons understand the importance of providing you with the best care possible during your journey to improved health. If you’d like to speak with an experienced Los Angeles bariatric surgeon today, contact La Peer Health Systems by calling (855) 360-9119 to gain a better understanding of how we can provide you with the exact procedure that you’ve been looking for.

As experts in our field, we know that the key to providing amazing results for patients is to address their every concern by providing them with a unique surgical approach. For additional information and to set up your meeting with a surgeon today, contact La Peer Health Systems.

If you are interested in learning more about the lap band surgery at La Peer, please visit our Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence website, which is dedicated to the bariatric procedures we offer.

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