The LAP-BAND®, is probably one of the best known weight loss surgery procedures, thanks to high-profile celebrities such as Fern Britton and Sharon Osborne's well publicised success.

The gastric band device is placed around the top of the stomach and makes you feel full faster so that you are able to eat less and therefore lose weight.

The procedure generally delivers weight loss of 40-50% of excess weight and is recomended for patients whose BMI (Body Mass Index) is 35 or over.  One of the great benefits of the gastric band is that it can then be adjusted ongoing to suit your weight loss requirements and ensure that your weight loss proceeds at a steady and healthy pace.

Lap Band Surgery
The gastric band / lap band has being regarded by patients as "the ultimate portion controller"!

This diagram shows the band in place around the top of the stomach.  The gastric band makes the stomach into an 'hour-glass' shape.  The new small upper stomach pouch is about the size of a golf ball, with the larger part of the stomach sitting below the band.  This means that the pouch above the band can only store a small amount of food, which then passes through the band into the lower part of the stomach.  The band controls the flow rate of food from the upper to the lower part of the stomach, which means that you feel fuller sooner and the feeling lasts longer.  The drier the texture of food, the slower it will pass through the opening created by the band.

 
How the Gastric Band Works

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