Stomach bands or laparoscopic lap bands have a port located just under the skin and mid-way up your midriff just under the diaphragm. If you lay flat on your back and put your hand on the top part of your tummy, you can feel the port just below the skin.
This port is a very small, soft piece of 'plasticity' type material that reminds me of a drinking straw. If you have ever squashed up a drinking straw by rolling it around on itself and you notice the first 2-3 twists that is similar to what a port is like except its flat.
It is situated at the top of the stomach for easy access for a refill or for some fluid removal but unless you are looking for it, you probably wouldn't be able to feel it.
If you were worried that a sexual partner may feel it during intercourse he/she could if they were looking to find it. Does it interfere with life? No, not remotely.
Because the port is located just below the skin it allows easy access for your bariatric Doctor or Nurse to do any adjusting required for weight loss. If you consistently aren't losing weight then you may need a refill. If you are losing too much weight too quickly they will draw some saline solution out of your band to enlarge it so you eat more.
A refill is where they inject 1 or 2mls of a saline solution into the band to expand it and make the stomach entrance smaller. This may sound horrific but it truly isn't. It takes all of about 90 seconds to do, and because the syringe is just inserted below the skin it hardly hurts at all. To be very honest, nearly every splinter I've had in my hands has hurt a whole lot more.
Don't be put off having a laparoscopic lap banding done if you need it because you think it will detract from the appearance or feel of your stomach. Unless you tell, no one else will ever know.
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