Next to the traditional gastric bypass, Lap Band and Realize Band surgery is the second most common weight loss surgery. In most cases, the surgery is performed laparoscopically.
The surgery involves the placement of an inflatable silicon "Lap Band" around the upper part of the stomach, creating a small upper stomach pouch. El Camino Hospital surgeons use two different types of bands: the Lap Band and the newer Realize Band.
After surgery, the stomach can only hold about an ounce of food at a time, and the resulting reduction in food intake by the patient results in weight loss. A plastic tube runs from the silicone band to a device just under the skin through which Saline can be injected or removed from the Lap Band to make it tighter or looser.
These adjustments are done on an outpatient basis in the surgeon’s office or x-ray department. Unlike gastric bypass surgery, these surgeries do not interfere with food absorption, so vitamin deficiencies after Lap Band or Realize Band surgery are rare.
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