Lap Band Surgery In Ireland

The Lap-Band® has an unparalleled safety record and has been used in weight loss surgeries for over 30 years.

The band is essentially a hollow silicone structure which is fitted around the upper part of the stomach so as to form a small “pouch” above the band. Adding fluid (saline) through the access port, tightens the band and restricts the amount of food which can pass through into the stomach.

The Lap-Band® has a lot of advantages:
● This surgery does not require any cutting or stapling of the stomach like other weight loss procedures, which means there are no permanent alterations, making it a very safe operation
● The Lap-Band® is completely reversible
● The risks involved with this surgery are much lower than that for other weight loss procedures
● The Lap-Band® is not associated with causing any vitamin or mineral deficiencies
● The surgery usually takes less than 45 minutes to complete. A faster surgery means a faster recovery. Less time in theatre means lower risk to the patient.

Many people think the band is meant to stop them eating, but this is wrong.

The band actually works by producing satiety (a feeling of fulness), so you feel as though you have had enough even after eating only small amounts. How does this happen?

It happens because in the stomach wall beneath the band there are specialised nerve fibres.

When food enters the pouch, the fibres are stimulated and send a message to the appetite centre in the brain – which produces a sensation of satiety. Feeling full after only small amounts of food means you will eat less – and lose weight.

The gastric band operation is performed laparoscopically (also known as key-hole surgery) under a general anaesthetic.

The operation takes just 45 minutes and patients usually return home on the same day. Generally, 3-5 small incisions are made in the abdominal wall, through which surgical instruments can be passed. The band is then placed around the upper part of the stomach, about 2cm below where the oesophagus (gullet) joins the stomach. The procedure does not involve any cutting of the stomach or bowel and only a few sutures (stitches) are applied to keep the band in place. This means that the procedure is fully and relatively easily reversible.

Following gastric band surgery, you should spend the first few days resting at home, but light work is usually possible after that. Whilst some people return to work after a few days, we think it is prudent to take a full week away from work to recover. At the end of this period it should be quite safe to drive.

Incisions made during surgery are sutured and/or glued and the wounds normally heal within 10-14 days. The scars will tend to fade gradually, though some patients find it helpful to apply a silicone scar-reduction gel.

It’s important to start working with your band soon after surgery – you can start walking almost immediately. You should also stick closely to the nutritional guidelines with which you will be provided.

Remember – this is the beginning of a new chapter in your life!

The main advantage of the Lap-Band® is its adjustability. The Lap-Band® can be tightened or loosened in a matter of minutes in our clinic. The surgery itself is minimally invasive, only taking around 35-45 minutes to complete. There is minimal scarring with very small incisions made. The stomach itself remains fully intact, along with the full digestive system. Unlike other obesity surgeries, the Lap-Band® is fully reversible. Should anybody wish to have the Lap-Band® removed, they will be left with a fully intact stomach and gastrointestinal tract.

Some other advantages of the Lap-Band® include:

● Very low risk

● Significant and durable weight loss

● Fully reversible (preserves stomach and bowel)

● Day-case procedure (usually)

● Proven studies show significant and durable weight loss

● Major reductions in obesity-associated health risks

● Low risks of vitamin and mineral deficiency

Some disadvantages of the Lap-Band® can include:

● Requires relatively regular attendance for adjustments (several times a year)

● Unlike sleeve or bypass, the Lap-Band® does not reduce appetite hormones

● Complications (though usually very minor) are slightly more common than other procedures.

● Health benefits are entirely dependent on weight-reduction

● Experience of the surgeon directly influences the risk of long-term
complications.

● Can sometimes be a problem for those who do a lot of overseas travel

Auralia surgeons have carried out thousands of surgeries, and they are the top experts of Ireland

To be eligible for Lap-Band Surgery:

● Your age should be +18
● Your BMI should be 30 kg/m2 or higher

Before you’re approved for Lap-Band Surgery, you’ll also have to complete a surgical, medical, psychological, and dietary evaluation.

If you have any questions about eligibility, feel free to get in contact with our team today.

4-5 weeks after surgery

Based on the experience from past patients, the average weight loss is around 1.5 stone or 8% of your starting weight.

Long-term weight loss

Lap-Band® weight loss results vary from patient to patient. It largely depends on how well you follow the given guidelines regarding the foods you eat, exercise habits and working with your Lap-Band® to maximise your results. You should lose about 50-60% of your excess weight over the first two years. This is only an average – some people might lose more or less, depending on their own effort levels.

Gastric banding has a major, often dramatic, impact on a wide variety of obesity associated conditions. Only a surgical intervention can provide such a sustained reduction in health risks, improve quality of life and protect against premature death and disability.

Some of the health benefits of band-associated weight loss are:

• Cardiovascular disease – reduced risk of heart attack and stroke (due to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels)
• Type 2 diabetes – complete resolution or major improvement in the majority of Type 2 diabetics
• Sleep apnoea – resolution or marked improvement in snoring, daytime sleepiness and fatigue
• Reflux (heartburn) – the band is an effective anti-reflux device in most patients
• Back and joint pain – most of band patients experience dramatic reductions in back and joint pain and markedly improved mobility
• Stress incontinence – is common in female band patients who can expect significant improvement or complete resolution of symptoms
• Infertility and PCOS – most patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) experience correction of underlying hormonal problems and restored fertility
• Asthma – asthmatic patients see marked improvement in symptoms and a reduction in asthma medication
• Fatty liver – 80% of patients will have complete resolution of obesity-associated fatty liver disease
• Psychological wellbeing – reduced depressive symptoms and anxiety, improved social interaction and overall quality of life

The above list is not exhaustive, but it accounts for the fact that band patients have – on average – a 60-70% lower risk of premature death when compared with their obese (non-banded) peers.

In summary, the band improves or resolves a range of obesity-associated weight problems, enhances social and psychological functioning and reduces the risk of premature death and disability. Not many procedures anywhere in medicine can offer such a remarkable list of benefits!

When your Lap-Band® is implanted, it will usually contain minimal fluid. At this point, the focus is on recovery. About 5 weeks post-surgery, we can begin adjusting your Lap-Band® to help control your hunger and improve your weight loss.

Adjusting your Lap-Band® will also depend on how well you’re doing. If you are losing about 1-2lbs (0.5-1 kg) a week, have no issues and feel well, you’re doing fine. If your weight loss is very slow or if you have a little feeling of satiety, you may need a further adjustment. There is considerable variation in how many adjustments are required in the first 12 months. Some need one, others need five or six. But remember, more is not necessarily better. Some people think if their Lap-Band® is producing good weight loss, tightening it further will give more dramatic results. This is not true. An over-adjusted Lap-Band® can be dangerous, increasing the chance of slippage and other complications.

This is a myth. The Lap-Band® does not cause reflux (heartburn) or make existing heartburn worse. In fact, in many cases, it can improve symptoms for patients. The exception to this, however, is when a Lap-Band® is over-tightened. Reflux can become common in this scenario and quite distressing. Any patient who is getting persistent reflux with their Lap-Band® should have it loosened as soon as possible.

Major vitamin and mineral deficiencies are very uncommon with the Lap-Band®, but it is still recommended that you take your daily vitamin and mineral supplements.

One of the unique features about the Lap-Band® is that it is completely reversible. This means if you want to have a different kind of surgery and need the Lap-Band® removed, it is possible.

Some surgeries like conversion to a gastric bypass can even be done at the same time as the Lap-Band® removal.

As with any form of surgery, there are potential risks and complications associated with gastric band surgery, they include:

• Hemorrhage / bleeding
• Adverse reactions to anesthesia and/or medication
• Blood clots – deep vein thrombosis (legs), pulmonary embolus (lungs)
• Infection

However, in the hands of an experienced bariatric team, these risks are remarkably low.

Short term post-surgery effects (first 7-days)

Typical side-effects immediately after surgery include:

• Left-shoulder pain (common after any laparoscopic procedure in which gas is introduced into the abdominal cavity)
• Minor soreness over the wound areas, with associated mild swelling/bruising
• Some discomfort taking a deep breath
• Mild nausea following the anaesthetic (uncommon).

However, most patients do not find the post-operative period difficult and these symptoms are usually short-lived.  Pain is easily controlled with paracetamol and/or co-codamol.

Long-term complications

Several longer-term complications can occur with gastric bands, but fortunately the most frequent of these are the ones which are most easily remedied – often without surgery.  They include;

• Retching / vomiting
• Band slippage
• Band erosion
• Pouch enlargement
• Access port or tubing leaks