A Laparoscopic adjustable gastric band, also commonly referred to as a lap band, is a type of inflatable silicone item that is usually placed around the top most portion of the stomach in some kind of laparoscopic surgery. It is usually implemented in an attempt to treat obesity of any kind. Gastric bands are considered by some to be an extreme form of weight loss surgery, but, in some cases, the options for weight loss are relatively limited. However, gastric bands are not used for just anyone because there are a certain number of risks that accompany this obesity surgery. Gastric bands are only used to treat those patients with a body mass index, or BMI, or 40 or higher. Though, patients with a Body Mass Index of as low as 35 may also undergo the surgery in the case which that particular patient has some other condition which can prevent weight loss to some degree (these include diabetes, apnea, hypertension, GERD, or metabolic syndrome).

The use of gastric bands also comes with a certain amount of risk, including gastritis, which can cause diffuse discomfort or other pain. If this becomes severe, it can also result in a painful ulcer formation which can heavily complicate the digestive process. Some other conditions that may result in the use of gastric bands include Erosion which may be the result of the band slowly migrating through the wall of the stomach to where it is on the inside of the stomach. Though this usually occurs silently, it can display many painful symptoms while it occurs, which can prompt immediate medical attention. If the gastric band causes bleeding, it may require immediate, severe surgery to correct before internal bleeding occurs. Though these risks are evident, they may be worth it to get the potential weight loss that will occur as a result of the use of a gastric band.