| Lap-band adjustable gastric banding is the latest | | | | minimum invasion, also leads to quicker recovery. The |
| entrant (approved by the FDA in 2001) in the sphere of | | | | band's diameter is adjustable and can be tightened or |
| surgical treatment of morbid obesity. This procedure | | | | loosened according to individual needs. The diameter |
| induces weight loss by reducing the capacity of the | | | | of the band can be adjusted by inflation with a saline |
| stomach that causes lesser intake of food. | | | | solution. The band is connected to a reservoir (placed |
| The procedure involves implanting an inflatable silicone | | | | under the skin) of saline solution by tubing. The surgeon |
| band into the abdomen of the patient. This creates a | | | | can easily reach this reservoir by using a needle and |
| new, small stomach pouch that controls the amount of | | | | adjust the diameter of the band by either increasing or |
| food the person can consume. This also created an | | | | reducing the amount of solution in the reservoir. This |
| outlet between the rest of the stomach and intestines, | | | | surgery has an edge over other surgeries as it does |
| which is narrow and leads to longer retention of food | | | | not involve any cutting/stapling of the stomach and |
| in the stomach. The process therefore brings about a | | | | can also be adjusted to patients need after surgery |
| feeling of fullness that is retained for a long time due to | | | | without any operation. Likewise, patients requiring more |
| slow emptying of the stomach pouch. This leads to | | | | nutrition, for example, during pregnancy can have their |
| significant weight loss. | | | | bands loosened while patients not adequately |
| The process is usually done by laparoscopy; thus, the | | | | benefiting can have their bands tightened. As of now, |
| pain involved is minimal compared to other methods of | | | | the lap band process is the only adjustable surgical |
| surgical treatment. Laparoscopy, which involves | | | | treatment available in the US. |