Lap-Band®

The gastric band is a soft silicone ring placed around the upper part of the stomach by keyhole surgery, creating a small pouch above the band. The band connects by tubing to an access port under the skin, and adding or removing saline through the port tightens or loosens the band. A correctly adjusted band means a small meal satisfies you, so you eat less without constant hunger.

Unlike the sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass, nothing is removed or rerouted, which is why the band was popular for many years: the operation is comparatively minor and adjustable. The trade off is that the band relies on a device staying in place and working well for the rest of your life.

In common with weight loss surgeons in Australia and overseas, we usually do not offer the gastric band as a first option. Long term experience, including our own with over 4,000 banding operations, has shown that many patients do not maintain satisfactory weight loss with the band, and a significant number eventually need the band adjusted, revised or removed because of problems such as slippage, erosion, reflux or food intolerance.

Modern procedures such as the sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass deliver more reliable long term weight loss, which is why they are now the standard of care. The band remains available to selected patients on request, and if you feel strongly that the band is right for you, we are happy to discuss it openly, including the evidence, at your consultation.

We look after many patients with existing bands, including bands placed by other surgeons, interstate or overseas. If your band is working well, we can continue your care. If it is not delivering the result you hoped for, the first step is a consultation with one of our surgeons and assessment by our dietitian, sometimes with an X ray or gastroscopy, to see whether the band can be made to work.

If your band is causing problems such as reflux, vomiting, night regurgitation, difficulty swallowing or pain at the port site, do not delay seeking advice, as some band complications can become urgent. Where the band cannot be made to work, options include newer weight loss medications, band removal, or removal with conversion to a sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass. Our revisional surgery page covers band removal and conversion in detail.

The eligibility criteria are the same as for other weight loss surgery: generally a BMI of 35 or above, or 30 or above with a weight related health condition, with lower thresholds for people of Asian descent. Check where you stand with our BMI calculator. At your consultation in Melbourne, your surgeon will lay out how the band compares with the sleeve and bypass for your situation, and the decision remains yours.