If a patient is concerned that a gastric bypass surgery is not for them, then they may want to consider a gastric bypass alternative—the lap band procedure.

The lap band procedure is a much less invasive gastric bypass alternative. It uses a silicone, elastomer band that is adjustable to divide the stomach into two sections. Unlike gastric bypass, there is no cutting or stapling of the stomach. The band is merely tightened to make the patient feel fuller with a smaller amount of food.

This feature of adjustability allows the surgeon to make the pouch smaller as the patient grows used to the first size. This gastric bypass alternative grows along with the patient (or shrinks, as the case may be).

This gastric bypass alternative is just as effective as the traditional surgery, but can be adjusted over time to suit the patient’s weight loss goals. And since the surgery is minimally invasive, the recovery time is shorter—from weeks to only days.

In many cases, this gastric bypass alternative is less expensive due to the simplified nature of the surgery. And the risks to the patient’s health are lessened as well.

By combing the ability to help a patient with weight loss as well as provide a greater sense of ease about undergoing surgery, the lap band as a gastric bypass alternative is the perfect choice for many patients.