Lap-Band® Surgery

Sharp HealthCare offers laparoscopic gastric banding (Lap-Band) surgery.

The Lap-Band is an adjustable silicone ring that is placed around the upper portion of the stomach and is designed to restrict the amount of food that can be consumed at one time. In the procedure, the surgeon makes several small incisions in the abdomen and places a silicone ring around the upper portion of the stomach and a port just below the surface of the skin. As needed, the surgeon can use the port to add or remove saline from the ring.

With a small stomach pouch that can only hold a small amount of food, patients feel full faster and longer as the food moves more slowly through the digestive tract. The Lap-Band procedure has a shorter surgical time and hospital stay.

Candidate Requirements for Lap-Band Procedure

• Candidates with a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or more — find out your BMI
• Patients that are at a higher risk for the more invasive Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery due to health complications

Advantages of the Lap-Band Procedure

• Adjustable and reversible
• Dramatically improves health problems related to obesity including diabetes and high blood pressure
• Early complication rate is lower compared to other weight-loss surgeries
• Less invasive than other procedures
• Malnutrition complications are rare
• Often performed as an outpatient surgery (patients typically go home the same day of surgery)
• Patients typically return to work and normal activities within a week
• Weight loss is slow and steady

Disadvantages of the Lap-Band Procedure

• Late complication rate is higher compared to other weight-loss surgeries
• Patients can expect to lose 40 percent to 60 percent of their excess body weight over a period of 2 to 3 years; compared to the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass of 70 percent to 100 percent weight loss in the first year
• Successful weight loss is dependent on the frequency of follow-up visits
• Wear and tear of device, which may require replacement

Learn More About Our Programs — Attend a Free Seminar
Sharp offers Lap-Band surgery at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center, located in South Bay San Diego, and Sharp Memorial Hospital, located in Serra Mesa, adjacent to Kearny Mesa off Highway 163. The first step in obtaining weight-loss surgery at Sharp is to attend one of our free educational seminars. These seminars provide information about the surgery, other treatment options, program requirements, lifestyle changes, risks, potential complications and benefits. The seminars are designed to help you make an educated and informed decision about whether surgery is right for you.

For More Information
To sign up for a free informational seminar, call 1-800-82-SHARP (1-800-827-4277), Monday through Friday, 8 am to 6 pm, or register online at bariatric surgery seminar.

You can also learn more about the procedure by reading frequently asked questions about lap band.

If you do not meet the requirements for weight-loss surgery or you aren't sure if weight-loss surgery is for you, but are still interested in losing weight, please visit Weight Management in Sharp Services to learn more about Sharp’s personalized weight-loss programs.