{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":["Service","SurgicalProcedure"],"subjectOf":{"@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF LAP-BAND?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"<p>The Lap-Band is generally considered to be a safe weight loss procedure, with more than 1,000,000 bands placed around the world in the last 25 years. Still, any surgical procedure is associated with some risks and complications. Complications of Lap-Band may include:<\/p><ul> <li>Band slippage<\/li> <li>Band erosion<\/li> <li>Food trapping<sup>3<\/sup><\/li> <\/ul>","name":"WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF LAP-BAND? Answer","@id":"https:\/\/www.alweightlosscenter.com\/weight-loss-options\/gastric-banding-huntsville-alabama\/#Answer"},"@id":"https:\/\/www.alweightlosscenter.com\/weight-loss-options\/gastric-banding-huntsville-alabama\/#Question"},{"@type":"Question","name":"HOW LONG DOES LAP-BAND LAST?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The Lap-Band is designed to remain in place for life. Your band will need to be adjusted, especially in the first year of placement, during a simple visit to our office. Lap-Band can also be adjusted for major life events like pregnancy.","name":"HOW LONG DOES LAP-BAND LAST? Answer","@id":"https:\/\/www.alweightlosscenter.com\/weight-loss-options\/gastric-banding-huntsville-alabama\/#Answer1"},"@id":"https:\/\/www.alweightlosscenter.com\/weight-loss-options\/gastric-banding-huntsville-alabama\/#Question1"}],"name":"FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT GASTRIC BANDING","@id":"https:\/\/www.alweightlosscenter.com\/weight-loss-options\/gastric-banding-huntsville-alabama\/#FAQPage"},"brand":{"@type":"Brand","name":"LAP-BAND\u00ae","@id":"https:\/\/www.alweightlosscenter.com\/weight-loss-options\/gastric-banding-huntsville-alabama\/#Brand"},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.alweightlosscenter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Gastric_Banding.jpg","height":"490","width":"460","@id":"https:\/\/www.alweightlosscenter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Gastric_Banding.jpg"},"areaServed":[{"@type":"State","url":"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Alabama","name":"Alabama","@id":"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Alabama"},{"@type":"City","url":"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Huntsville,_Alabama","name":"Huntsville","@id":"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Huntsville,_Alabama"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.alweightlosscenter.com\/weight-loss-options\/gastric-banding-huntsville-alabama\/","additionalType":"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Adjustable_gastric_band","howPerformed":"The surgery occurs while the patient is fully anesthetized, and is performed through a minimally invasive laparoscopic technique using only small incisions. Dr. Doucette performs the procedure using a tiny video camera and specialized instruments inserted through the small incisions.  During the gastric banding procedure, the LAP-BAND\u00ae is placed around the top of the stomach, creating a small pouch above the band. The band has a small balloon attached to it which is filled with saline by the surgeon to achieve the appropriate amount of restriction. The band can be resized by the surgeon by adding or removing the saline.  Afterwards, when patients eat, the food fills the top stomach pouch created by the band, giving the feeling of fullness with less food. The food will slowly filter through the restricted opening into the rest of the stomach where it will continue to be digested normally.","medicineSystem":"WesternConventional","procedureType":"PercutaneousProcedure","relevantSpecialty":"Surgical","preparation":"As a patient with Alabama Surgical Associates, our team will walk you through all of the steps of preparing for your Lap-Band procedure. You will have a thorough medical examination to ensure that you are a good candidate for this bariatric surgery procedure. We will help you learn about all aspects of the Lap-Band procedure, recovery period, and the lifestyle changes that will help you overcome obesity. By the date of your surgery, you will have worked with a dietician to learn about healthy eating habits, have learned about safe and effective exercises, and emotional factors that often accompany obesity. Thanks to your relationships with members of the Alabama Surgical Associates team, you will have a strong support network to help you throughout your weight loss surgery experience.","description":"Laparoscopic gastric banding, most commonly known as Lap-Band\u00ae, is a surgical weight loss procedure in which the amount a person can eat is restricted by the size of the stomach. Dr. Darrell Doucette, our board-certified bariatric surgeon and obesity medicine specialist, offers gastric band surgery in Huntsville, Alabama.\n\nIn the procedure, Dr. Doucette will place a Lap-Band around the upper portion of the stomach, which can be adjusted (increase or decrease the tightness), to create a small section of the stomach so the patient will feel fuller faster. Unlike the gastric sleeve, the gastric band doesn\u2019t remove any part of the stomach, instead regulating the speed of digesting food using an adjustable band.","name":"LAP-BAND\u00ae (GASTRIC BANDING)","followup":"Most patients go back to work within one week and resume light exercise within two weeks after Lap-Band surgery.\n\nAfter surgery, the stomach will need to adjust to the band. Patients will be placed on a special diet to reintroduce solid food over the first six weeks. In order to reduce the risk of the band slipping, patients need to strictly adhere to the meal plan schedule. This allows both the stomach and patient to adjust to the small capacity of the pouch. Supplements are also required to make sure patients get all the nutrients they need.","@id":"https:\/\/www.alweightlosscenter.com\/weight-loss-options\/gastric-banding-huntsville-alabama\/"}