LAP-BAND® System Maintenance

Once the band is around the stomach, tubing connects the LAP-BAND® System to an access port fixed beneath the skin of the abdomen. This allows the surgeon to change the stoma size by adding or removing sterile saline, or salt water, inside the inner balloon through the access port with a thin needle. This adjustment process helps determine the rate of weight loss.

The diameter of the band can be modified to meet individual needs and change as a patient loses weight or needs to gain weight for medical reasons such as pregnancy. If the band is too loose and weight loss is inadequate, adding more saline can reduce the size of the stoma and further restrict the amount of food intake. If the band is too tight, saline can be removed to loosen the band and reduce the amount of restriction.

After two to four visits during the first month, surgeons usually see their patients every four to 12 weeks during the first year to determine if adjustments need to be made. As the adjustments can be performed without surgery, they are often done in an office setting.