Lap-band Surgery: How Much Weight Will You Lose?

Lap-Band surgery has become the fastest growing surgical treatment option for morbid obesity since the Food and Drug Administration approved the Lap-Band System for use in the U.S. in 2001. Many patients choose the Lap-Band procedure because it is reversible, whereas most other bariatric procedures are not. In many cases, the operation is shorter and less invasive for Lap-Band surgery, as well.

But how much weight can you expect to lose with the Lap-Band? And will you lose as much weight as you would with a permanent procedure, like gastric bypass surgery?

Initial weight loss is slower with the Lap-Band than with the gastric bypass; however, the procedure has the same overall long-term effectiveness.

"Recent studies show that gastric banding patients lose 40 to 50 percent of their excess weight after the first year," says Minnesota Lap-Band surgeon Dr. William Lee. "The average weight loss after five years is around 55 percent," he adds. In comparison, gastric bypass patients lose about 70 percent of their excess weight in the first year, and then level off around the 60 percent mark after five years.

Research also shows that over the long term, Lap-Band patients keep the weight off and maintain a healthy body mass index (BMI). With integrated patient care, including ongoing post-operative support, 98 percent of Lap-Band patients studied lost 87 percent of their excess weight and kept it off, according to a report in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Lap-Band patients who regain some of all of their excess weight often do so because they fail to follow the aftercare requirements prescribed by their surgeon. Patients are generally advised to see their doctor to have the Lap-Band adjusted, or "filled", every 3-4 months during the first year after Lap-Band surgery. This way, the band continues to stay tight around the stomach as the person loses weight, helping them stick to smaller portion sizes and promoting a feeling of satiety (fullness) that fosters weight loss.

When patients fail to have the band adjusted, they are likely to regain the weight they just lost until the stomach returns to the size it was several months before and the Lap-Band begins to feel tight again. This type of behavior obviously defeats the purpose of the surgery, which is to help people who struggle with obesity lose enough of their excess weight to reach a healthy BMI, and then maintain their new weight for the rest of their life.

With any kind of weight loss surgery procedure, success ultimately depends on your level of commitment. The surgeon can only modify the size of your stomach, but you can always find ways to cheat the surgery by eating high-fat or high-calorie foods, and if you don't get regular daily exercise, the pounds will likely stay put. By committing to a healthy lifestyle, which includes modest portion sizes, healthy food choices, and daily physical activity, you can maximize the results of your weight loss surgery and enjoy a longer, healthier life.

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