About The Lap Band

Everywhere you look there are more and more overweight Americans. Most have tried multiple diets in the past - usually with short-term success- but they are unable to keep the weight off for the long term. It is our honor to bring the Lap-Band surgery to the ArkLaTex to help make the weight come off - and stay off. Over 250,000 Lap-Bands have been placed worldwide, and it is the safest, least invasive, least radical surgical option for weight loss.

Operations to treat obesity have been around for many years, but the older operations are much more unsafe than the Lap-Band. Other weight loss surgical procedures involve cutting across the stomach or intestine, which can increase the chance for leaks and post-operative death. The Lap Band is the only minimally invasive, adjustable weight loss surgery.

Gastric bypass risks are generally substantially higher than risks from the Lap Band. "It turns out that the 1 in 500 or 1 in 200 risk of death [from gastric bypass] that people are commonly quoted comes from the best surgeons," says researcher David R. Flum, MD, MPH, assistant professor of surgery at the University of Washington. "In fact, in the real world …the risk of dying within 30 days of [gastric bypass] surgery is about one in 50."

Unlike the gastric bypass ("stomach amputation") or the VBG ("stomach stapling"), the Lap Band does not require cutting across the stomach or intestine. In the gastric bypass, cutting across the stomach or intestines creates a chance for a leak which can be fatal.

Studies have shown that some patients who had weight related illnesses such as diabetes and high blood pressure, have had those diseases cured when they lose weight with the Lap Band, and no longer need to take their medicines for those diseases.

The procedure works by surgically placing the Lap Band across the top of the stomach, creating a small stomach pouch. The band slows down the passage of food into the rest of the stomach, creating a feeling of fullness with only small portions of food. This allows for safe weight loss without any nutritional deficiencies. There is no dumping syndrome, no need for iron or B12 shots as there is with the gastric bypass.

Most Lap-Band operations are performed as "same day" procedures, where the patient leaves the hospital a few hours after surgery. Time off from work varies from person to person, but if no heavy lifting is involved, a patient can usually return to work within 3-7 days after surgery.

Lap Band placed across the stomach with the port invisible under the skin.
The Lap Band port is accessed for
adjustments. This is generally
done in the office.
When the Lap Band's inner balloon is completely deflated, the stomach opening allows a moderate passage of food.
When the inner balloon is inflated there is a smaller opening into the stomach creating a greater feeling of fullness and a greater restriction to the amount of food you can eat.

Advantages of the Lap Band:

No cutting across the stomach or intestine
Safest profile of any weight loss surgery
Laparoscopic surgery with small incisions
Short recovery time with most patients going home the same day of surgery

It has been gratifying for Dr. Hekier and Dr. Keilin to see cases among their patients who may no longer need take insulin or diabetic pills, may no longer need to take blood pressure medicines and are no longer held back by back, knee and hip pain.

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Testimonials

Maxcine has lost 89 pounds in a little over a year, and is still going strong! She used to take 15 medication pills per day, and is off of all of them. Way to go Maxcine!
We call Jeff "Mr Lap Band Oklahoma!" Jeff lost 130 pounds in the first year after Lap Band surgery. Here he is showing off with the belt he used to wear!
Kelli was just 19 years old when she had her Lap Band and lost over 170 pounds in the first year after surgery.
Amy has lost 78 pounds since surgery and has more energy and feels better than she did before!