How the Lap-Band Is Placed in the Body
During lap band surgery, a lap band surgeons will place a band around the upper portion of your stomach. This creates a small stomach pouch, called a neostoma, that holds a limited portion of food. This is because the nerves that signal the brain when your stomach is full are located in the upper part of your stomach. The band allows the food you eat to slowly be released into the lower portion of your stomach to be digested. There are fewer risks and complications with this surgery than with other types of weight loss surgery.

Who Are Candidates for the Lap Band System?
Good candidates for lap band surgery, the type of weight loss surgery we perform here, meet the following requirements. You must have a Body Mass Index (BMI) above 40, or between 30 and 40 with comorbidities such as diabetes or sleep apnea. You should be between 14 and 55 years of age, although age doesn't automatically disqualify you. You should have tried and failed at dietary or weight loss drug therapy for more than one year. You should not have any dependency on alcohol or drugs, or have glandular diseases such as hypothyroidism. Also, you must be an acceptable operative risk.