How Does A Lap Belt Surgery Work
The only available completely reversible weight loss option in gastric bypass surgeries is that of using an adjustable band made to fit around the upper part of the stomach. You can call it lap belt surgery, although it is popularly known as lap band surgery. This is because lap is a shorter form of laparoscopic and belt is the same as the band used to constrict the upper part of the stomach.
The technical name of the procedure is laparoscopic adjustable gastric bypass (LAGB) surgery. In the procedure, a small incision is made in the skin over the stomach. A half-inch wide by a foot long circular cross-section hollow band made from inflatable silicone material is inserted through the hole into the upper part of the skin over the stomach.
The band is then made to loop around the upper part of the stomach. The band has a restricting device to attach the end of it around the stomach upper portion so as to form a tie. The other end of the band is kept protruding out over the skin where the incision has been made. This end has a small sealed reservoir filled with saline solution attached to it. The whole operation is performed using a camera (laparoscope) to view the picture of the operating area.
The purpose of the saline solution is to inflate the silicone band so that the band constricts the stomach at the position where it loops around it. Depending upon as much amount of the saline solution that is forced into the band, it inflates that much. Accordingly, it causes a certain amount of constriction of the stomach where the band loops around it. A needle is provided inserted partially in the reservoir to adjust the amount of saline solution that is forced into the inflatable band. Through this means the patient can self-adjust the constriction around the stomach. The constriction of the upper part of the stomach causes less food to be accommodated in the upper portion of the stomach. A significant result of this is that the patient feels his hunger completely satiated, although only a small amount of food has entered into the upper portion of the stomach. The more the stomach constriction, the earlier the patient feels his hunger satiated. As a result, the patient eats less food, but surprisingly feels nothing lacking. This helps in controlling the patient's weight. The great aspect of this method is that the patient can adjust the amount of saline entering the band during each meal to a different extent. By this, he can himself control how much weight he wants to lose. The cost of the procedure is only about $16,000. Moreover, lap belt surgery is a completely reversible surgical procedure that causes substantial weight reduction without any significant complications. Maintenance and frequent office visits are its only downside.
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