How It Works
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Safely and effectively, the revolutionary yet simple technology behind the LAP-BAND® Adjustable Gastric Banding System reduces the amount of food that your stomach can hold at one time. This helps you gradually lose weight and keep it off. So you can live a healthier life — for your children, your family, and yourself. |
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Without any stomach cutting or stapling, the LAP-BAND® System reduces your stomach’s capacity, restricting the amount of food you are able to eat at one time. Plus, you feel full faster and stay full longer, so you wind up eating less. |
Weight Loss Surgery Medical Considerations
Before you can use the LAP-BAND® System to help you lose weight and live healthier, you need to qualify medically. This means being currently healthy enough for the minimally invasive procedure. While only a physician or surgeon can give you a complete medical evaluation, the criteria listed here should help you get started. You may also want to ask your surgeon about other criteria he or she may use.
Keep in mind that only a qualified physician/surgeon can properly evaluate all the factors in your case. This result is a guideline for you, and can help you make the decision to seek more information about weight loss surgery using the LAP-BAND® System.
Getting Emotionally Ready for LAP-BAND® Surgery
Preparing to change your body — and your life — through weight loss surgery.
Knowing you qualify medically for the LAP-BAND® System can be very exciting. However, it may also make you a little anxious. After all, dramatic weight loss means changing both how you look and how you live.
Emotional preparation is critical to your success with the LAP-BAND® System. In fact, your surgeon’s team may want to evaluate your emotional readiness before performing your procedure.
Success takes commitment
The results may seem magical. But the work necessary for you to achieve success is real. While the LAP-BAND® System is a powerful tool for success, you must also be ready to make lifestyle changes that support long-term weight loss. These include:
- Sticking to dietary requirements.
- Adding exercise to your routine.
- Meeting with your surgeon for adjustments and ongoing support.
Changing your weight can change your world
Being prepared also means understanding how your commitment to weight loss may affect the world around you. Exercising, meal planning, and follow-up appointments may require more time for yourself — which you deserve. However, that can cause you to have less time for others. This may mean setting boundaries that may make you initially uncomfortable. Ultimately, you may find this to have a positive influence on your friends, family, and most importantly — on you.
And, while some loved ones may embrace the changes in your appearance and celebrate your success, others may find your change hard to accept at first. It’s important you feel you are able to address the situations and emotions that may arise throughout your weight loss journey.
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Support makes all the difference |
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If you are ready to take an active role in reducing your weight, the LAP-BAND® System can support you every step of the way. With My LAP-BAND® Journey, you’ll find a positive community, thousands strong, all taking the journey with you. You’ll also get the support, tools, articles, recipes, and tips you need to make the LAP-BAND® System your most effective tool for long-term success. |
Costs & Payment Options
Affording the LAP-BAND® System. We can help.
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The actual costs of your LAP-BAND® System will depend on your individual situation, including your health plan, the surgeon/hospital you choose, and whether you have an inpatient (overnight) or outpatient (same day) procedure. That said, there may be many ways to cover the costs of your LAP-BAND® System procedure, including insurance, Medicare, or private financing. Once you find a certified LAP-BAND® System surgeon, they, along with the experts at our free reimbursement hotline (1-800-LAP-BAND), can help you understand your insurance coverage and financing options. |
Insurance and Health Plans
Private insurance (HMO or PPO) or Medicare will often cover some, if not all, of the costs of your LAP-BAND® System procedure. Usually an approval is required before you can have the surgery. Navigating the insurance system on your own can be challenging. Let us help you learn more about the insurance process. See a list of some plans that cover the LAP-BAND® System and find out what you can do if you receive a denial for coverage.
Financing your LAP-BAND® System Surgery
Don’t worry if your insurance doesn’t cover the cost of LAP-BAND® System surgery. Flexible Payment Plans are available through CareCredit®.
The Personal Costs of Obesity
With today’s rising health costs, it’s normal to wonder if now is the time to consider the LAP-BAND® System. But you should know: extra weight often goes hand in hand with extra financial burden. Studies show obesity increases a person’s healthcare costs by 36% and medication costs by 77%, compared with people in a normal weight range.1 Knowing this, you may want to consider your own:
- Out-of-pocket healthcare expenses.
- Prescription and over-the-counter medication costs.
- Doctors/specialists, office visits, lab work, physical therapists, etc.
- Employment inactivity (missed work).
- Nonsurgical weight loss programs (WeightWatchers®, Jenny Craig®, etc.).
- Increased grocery and dining costs.
For this reason, acting now — using the LAP-BAND® System to significantly reduce your weight — may also reduce your weight-related costs.
Lap Band Support Forums
LapBandTalk.com
The largest and fastest growing online community dedicated to the Lap-band® Surgery. LapBandTalk was launched July 2003 and has since grown to well over 1.6 Million+ topics and 110,000+ registered members. LapBandTalk's audience consists of potential and post-op Lap-band® patients. Some popular LapBandTalk features are our discussion forums, online support groups, member blogs, Lap-band® Surgeon search and reviews, photo galleries containing before and after pictures, live member chat rooms with audio and video plus many other useful features.
Safety Information
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While the LAP-BAND® System is less invasive than other surgical weight loss procedures, it’s important to note: all surgical procedures have risks. Therefore, before you decide on any procedure, it’s important to know what the risks are. Talk with your surgeon in detail about the risks and complications that might arise during your LAP-BAND® System procedure.
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