Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding (LAGB)

General Information

Gastric Banding is a surgical procedure that can be performed by miniinvasive (Video) surgery. LAGB is a surgical procedure that limits the speed of food intake by creating a bottleneck barrier in the upper part of the stomach. The food stays in the upper pouch before it gradually passes through to the larger part of the stomach. As the upper stomach pouch is filled, the patient has a feeling of satiety after eating only a small amount of food.

The soft silicone band is placed around the top portion of the stomach. The gastric band restricts stomach capacity and reduces the quantity of food that can be eaten per meal. This means that you feel full after eating a smaller portion of food than normal and consequently you will stop eating and loose weight. The gastric band is fully adjustable without further surgery: it can be loosened if weight loss occurs too fast, or tightened if weight loss is too slow. Contrary to other irreversible surgeries applied in cases of serious obesity, the gastric band may be removed at any time, leaving no traces on the stomach.

 

Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding (LAGB)

Laparoscopic Gastric Band (LAGB) – Facts

Duration of surgery:

  • approx. 40 min.

Post treatment:

  • no sports
  • no manual labour
  • duration: approx. 3 weeks

Anaesthesia:

  • general anaesthesia

Hospitalisation:

  • 2-3 days

Indications for LABG

  • patient with BMI 35- 50
  • well-motivated (accepts nutritionist and psychological criteria)
  • no sweet eaters
  • no binge (volume) eaters
  • no stress eaters
  • accepts after-care programme
  • accepts the idea of having an implant inside the body
  • no heartburn
  • no poorly-stabilized diabetes type II

 

Typical Laparoscopic Gastric Banding patient

  • patient with BMI till 45kg/m2
  • well motivated (accepting nutritionist and psychological criteria)
  • no sweet eaters
  • no binge (volume) eaters
  • no stress eaters
  • accepting after care programme
  • accepting the idea of having an implant inside the body
  • no heartburn
  • no poorly stabilized diabetes type II

Advantages

  • minimally invasive surgery
  • no intestinal re-routing
  • no cuts or staples to the stomach or the intestine
  • small incisions and minimal scarring
  • Less pain; short hospital stay (1 day) and recovery period
  • significantly lower mortality risk compared to other bariatric surgery
  • no risk of nutritional insufficiency
  • no “dumping syndrome” caused by sugar intake
  • allows for individual adjustment for ideal long-term weight loss
  • adjustments done without surgery
  • Can be used in pregnancy by expanding the diameter of the band to adjust to the increased nutritional requirements of the expectant mother
  • Can be removed at any time
  • the stomach and other organs regain their original shape and function
  • preferred choice of thousands of surgeons all over the world   
  • established technique since 1995    

Disadvantages

  • patient needs to stay away from soft food, high caloric drinks and alcohol
  • requires serious commitment from the patient
  • Some people do not tolerate the presence of an implant on the stomach

Operation Time

  • The LAGB procedure takes between 30 minutes and 1 hour.

Technical description 

Laparoscopic adjustable Gastric Banding is reduces the size of the stomach by causing a narrow pass between upper and lower stomach. Nowadays gastric banding is placed on the stomach by the pars flacida technique. We use the method without stomach fundus placation using a special band. The stomach volume after such operation is between 15 and 20 ml.

Hospitalisation Time

  • The procedure requires a 1-to-3-night stay in the hospital after the operation.
     

After Surgery

After surgery, the patient must follow special diets and vitamin intake to lose weight in a controlled manner.

Supplementation after LABG:

  • Multivit+minerals 1 tab. per Day
  • Biotin, Selenium, Vitamin B9 (B11), Zink In case of hair problems

Briatric Analysis and  Reporting Outcome Score – BAROS 

  • Once a year

Standard Medication after Operation

  • PPI 20mg, 0-0-1 (1 Month)

Sport and physical activity

  • First three weeks after operation
  • 3 hours of physical activity per week but under sport medical supervision and medical advice.

Important tips

  • A team of experts must approve the surgery before gastric band implantation.
  • Because we promote safe practice and your safety is of paramount importance to us and to you, the disadvantages and advantages of the different procedures will be carefully explained to you in detail on consultation.
  • In the preoperative period, you are provided with care from physicians, psychologists and nutritionists. This team of experts will give you accurate advice on all aspects of the postoperative period: What you can eat and drink, when and how often; what exercises to perform; what individual therapy is necessary for specific issues related to your obesity.
  • By wearing the band and following the advice given by the experts, you will have every opportunity to reduce your weight and improve your health. Just imagine the moment when you can wear L clothes again. Discover your potential and improve your lifestyle.
  • After surgery, you will normally lose approximately 30 kg per year, provided that you follow the nutrition plan, take exercise therapy and participate in scheduled group discussions.
  • Only if you are willing to work to change yourself will you achieve your goal, i.e. healthy weight loss. You must be aware that this will not always be easy. However, with every pound lost, you will gain back quality of life, health and a longer life expectancy.

Diet after LABG

see: Diet after Gastric Banding and Sleeve Gastrectomy