Lap-Band surgery is a type of weight loss surgery that, like gastric bypass, alters the anatomy of the stomach to help you reduce food intake.
"Lap-Band System" is the brand name of the FDA-approved, adjustable gastric band used in the procedure. Most simply, a Lap-Band is a silicone belt that goes around the top of the stomach. This results in the ability to control your hunger and achieve a "feeling of fullness," or satiety. Ultimately, you eat much less and should feel full sooner.
A key component of the Lap-Band System is its adjustability. The band is connected to a port, which enables the device to be inflated over time to expedite the weight loss.
After performing a series of small incisions, your surgeon would use a small camera, called a laparoscope, to visualize placement of the Lap-Band. The Lap-Band is placed around the top of the stomach and secured in place with sutures. The port is then placed underneath the skin on the top part of the abdomen. Surgery should take only about an hour, and an overnight stay in the hospital may or may not be required.
The NIH (National Institutes of Health) requirements for Lap-Band surgery are the same as for any other weight loss surgery. These criteria were originally set in the early 1990s and have not changed. If your BMI, or body mass index, is between 35 and 39, then you must also have associated severe medical problems, or co-morbid conditions, in order to be a candidate for the Lap-Band. These conditions usually include diabetes, hypertension, or high cholesterol. But if your BMI is greater than 40, then it is not required that there be any associated medical problems.
Most insurance companies also require a history of previous attempts at weight loss. How stringent these requirements are can differ from one insurance company to another.
Many people do not meet the NIH requirements or do not have the insurance benefit for weight loss surgery, but they may still be able to pursue the procedure by paying for it themselves.