Michael Schweitzer, M.D., F.A.C.S
The Johns Hopkins Obesity Surgery Center The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Health Systems
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Information Criteria Consultation Forms You Will Need!! Resume Insurance The Diet After Surgery Directions Video Links Home Page	Laparoscopic Lap-Band Surgery A silicone band that is laparoscopically placed around your stomach thru 5 small incisions. It involves no cutting and no rearrangement of your intestines. The band has an adjustable balloon that is filled over time.  Most fills are done in the office with a special type of needle. Occasionally a fill may need to be done in a radiology suite or a barium study may be needed.  The band’s balloon squeezes the top of the stomach and thereby, slows the food emptying into the major portion of the stomach.  Please Click Here to Download and Read the Lap Band Booklet from Inamed Advantages Average weight loss of 30 to 50% excess weight Removable Adjustable Less risk of nutritional deficiencies Low risk of mortality Disadvantages Foreign body with an unknown longevity Less weight loss than gastric bypass or duodenal switch 7% loss no weight in the FDA series Food empties into the rest of the stomach Risks* 1)Leak of esophageal/stomach/intestinal fluid 2)Erosion 3)Infection 4)Bowel obstruction 5)Bleeding 6)Blood Clots 7)Esophageal dilation or dysmotiltiy (with worsening GERD/heartburn symptoms) 8)Breakage Please read Complication list (click) *These are some of the risks, please discuss at your consultation and ask questions.  In most cases the risks are low but this is major surgery.  Corrective surgery(s) may be necessary if complications arise.