History of the LAP-BAND System
The advantages of laparoscopic abdominal surgery are well-known and include reduced pain and trauma, shortened hospital stay and quicker recovery. However, in the early 1990s when laparoscopic surgery became popular, laparoscopic weight-loss surgery was still a challenge due to the technical difficulties associated with patient excess weight.
Open adjustable silicone gastric banding (ASGB) was already introduced at that time by Dr. Lubomyr Kuzmak (New Jersey, U.S.). In 1991, Drs. Mitiku Belachew and M. Legrand (Huy, Belgium) working on a confidential project with INAMED (then Inamed Development Company) started the development of laparoscopic gastric banding for the treatment of the seriously overweight. After two years of design, development work and testing of various prototypes and variations of the surgical technique in an animal lab, a video of the laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding in an animal model was presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery (ASBS) in June 1993.
The presentation was greeted with a lot of enthusiasm, and the first human the laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding procedure was performed on September 1, 1993, in Huy, Belgium. From September 1993 to February 1994, twenty-five consecutive patients underwent the laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding procedure in the clinical trial program in Belgium. In March 1994, the First International Workshop on laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, including 30 surgeons from around the world, was held in Huy, Belgium.
Thereafter, more workshops were organized worldwide. A policy was developed by INAMED not to sell the device to surgeons before participating in a training program at an approved center. The requirements for surgeons before a training program included good experience in bariatric surgery as well as advanced laparoscopic skills. Experience and qualification in the management of seriously overweight patients were also necessary.
In July 1994, the LAP-BAND� System became available on the market outside the U.S. to be used by the trained surgeons. In June 1995, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved clinical trials in selected U.S. centers. (The FDA regulations require clinical trials in approved centers before an implantable device, such as the LAP-BAND� System, can be used widely in the U.S. in a surgical procedure.) The LAP-BAND� System was approved for use in the United States in June 2001.
To date, over 200,000 devices have been implanted worldwide, allowing thousands of patients to lose weight and keep it off, reduce health risks and live a happier life. Benefits of this safe and least invasive procedure are now well-known in the U.S. and abroad. We at INAMED, now a division of Allergan, Inc, continue to refine the LAP-BAND� System and placement technique in conjunction with surgeons around the world to achieve better outcomes for our patients.
Timeline
June, 1986 – First use of open adjustable silicone gastric banding (ASGB)
April, 1990 – First use of ASGB in Europe
December, 1990 – ASBG FDA-approved clinical trial started in the U.S. with the first patient surgery 9/91 First ASGB workshop in Europe
September, 1993 – First laparoscopic adjustable gastric band used in Europe
March, 1994 – First LAP-BAND� System workshop in Europe
June, 1995 – LAP-BAND� FDA-approved clinical trial started in the U.S. with the first patient surgery in the United States
June, 2001 – The LAP-BAND� System is approved by the FDA for use in the United States
November, 2005 – 200,000 LAP-BAND� Systems implanted worldwide.
What about alcohol?
Alcohol has a high number of calories and breaks down vitamins so it is not recommended as a healthy food choice. However, an occasional glass of wine or other alcoholic beverage is not necessarily considered harmful to weight loss.
What if I go out to eat?
Order only a small amount of food, such as an appetizer. Eat slowly. Finish at the same time as your table companions. You might want to let your host or hostess know in advance that you cannot eat very much.
What about taking medication?
You should be able to take prescribed medication, though you may need to (1) use capsules or (2) break big tablets in half or dissolve them in water so they do not get stuck in the stoma and make you sick. Always ask the doctor who prescribes the drugs about this. Your surgeon may tell you to avoid taking aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain relievers because they may irritate the stomach. The problems these drugs may cause could result in band removal.
Will I need to take vitamin supplements?
You may. It’s possible to not get enough vitamins from three small meals a day. At your regular check-ups, your surgeon will evaluate whether you are getting enough vitamin B12, folic acid, and iron. Your surgeon may advise you to take supplements.
How overweight do I need to be to consider the LAP-BAND?
You should be at least 60-100 pounds overweight to consider the LAP-BAND� System. A better measure for determining your eligibility, however, is your BMI (Body Mass Index), a calculation based on your height and weight (Click here to calculate your BMI) The LAP-BAND� is generally recommended for patients with a BMI of 30-60.
