LAP-BAND: Laparoscopic Obesity Surgery

	Founders: G. B. Cadiere, M.D., Ph.D Surgical Department, Free University, Brussels (Belgium) F. Favretti, M.D. Obesity Center, University of Padua, Padua (Italy); Surgical Department, Regional Hospital, Vicenza (Italy)
	Members: R. Rumbaut Diaz, M.D. Centro Medico San Jose, Monterrey (Mexico) A. Osterwalder, M.D. Ars Medica Clinic Lugano (Switzerland) J. Himpens, M.D. Surgical Department, Free University, Brussels (Belgium) G. Segato, M.D. Obesity Center, University of Padua, Padua (Italy); Surgical Department, Regional Hospital, Vicenza (Italy)

	Dr. Guy-Bernard Cadiere and Dr. Franco Favretti were the first to develop and standardize the laparoscopic application of the LAP-BAND System. Together with other ILOST surgeons, they have performed the procedure on more than 2,300 patients with the lowest reported rate of complications. The ILOST team of surgeons can provide the necessary follow-up after surgery.

LAP-BAND® Adjustable Gastric Banding System is a minimally invasive surgery that involves applying a prosthesis (the LAP-BAND) around the stomach—creating a small gastric pouch—and a calibrated opening to the rest of the stomach. The advantages of LAP-BAND surgery include:
Reduced surgical trauma and pain
Less invasive for the abdominal wall (requires small incisions of 5 to10 millimeters) and for the stomach (no cutting or stapling of the organ is needed)
Shorter hospitalization than standard surgery
Respect of the anatomical and functional integrity of the stomach without by-passing portions of the stomach or intestines
Individualized to the patient's needs via inflation or deflation of the band
Fully reversible by simply removing the band. How It Works:
By creating a smaller gastric pouch, the LAP-BAND System limits the amount of food that the stomach will hold at any time. The inflatable ring controls the flow of food from this smaller pouch to the rest of the digestive tract. The patient will feel comfortably full with a small amount of food. And because of the slow emptying, the patient will continue to feel full for several hours reducing the urge to eat between meals. For more information on the LAP-BAND procedure, contact us at info2@obesitylapbandsurgery.com