This is a dual site, prospective study which will compare plicated-Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding (PLAGB) to standard LABG (SLAGB) to identify significant differences in bariatric surgical outcomes

• Weight Loss
• Co-morbid disease resolution

Inclusion Criteria:

Subjects must meet the following criteria to be eligible for study entry:

• Age between 18 - 80 years, and

• Severely or Morbidly obese:

  • BMI > 35, or
  • BMI > 30 + co-morbid obesity related disease condition

• Without any contraindications to bariatric surgery, and

• Without any metabolic or medically correctable causes for obesity (eg. Untreated hypothyroidism, Prader-Willi, etc.)

• Patients who have had previous LAGB surgery requiring revision for complications such as slippage, stalled weight loss or weight regain

Exclusion Criteria:

Subjects meeting the following criteria will be excluded from study entry:

• Any patient not meeting the inclusion criteria
• Patients with any major medical problems contraindicating surgery
• Patients with a medically treatable cause of obesity (eg. untreated hypothyroidism, Prader-Willi, etc.)
• Patients who elect to undergo a surgery other than a PLAGB or SLAGB
• Pregnant or planning pregnancy within 12 months
• Alcohol or drug addiction
• Established infection anywhere in the body at the time of surgery
• Previous history of other bariatric surgery (except LAGB)
• Family or patient history of autoimmune disease

Adult patients between the ages of 18-80 years of age who are severly or morbidly obese and meet NIH and FDA criteria for baratric surgery (BMI>30+ co-morbid disease or BMI>35) who are undergoing baratric surgery at Jacksonville Surgical Associates, P.A. or Ventura Advanced Surgical Associates will be returned. All enrolled patients will be assigned to either the SLAGB (control)group or the PLAGB (study) group.