Lap Bands

Gastric lapbands have to be adjusted one month after the surgery, and then again two months after that. If necessary, patient can get a third adjustment. Each adjustment costs $200.00 in Guatemala City; in the U.S the first adjustment costs $1,500.00 and subsequent adjustments $400.00.

There are 2 types of lap bands both approved by the FDA: the Inamed or Allergan lapband, approved in 2001, and the Realize band- previously known as the Swedish lapband -, produced by Johnson & Johnson, and approved by the FDA in 2007. Both are the same in regards to quality.