Morbid obesity is a major problem affecting the lives of millions in the US. As of 2008, overall prevalence of obesity as defined by body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 kg/m2 was 33.8%.1 Obesity adversely affects the lives of millions of Americans by increasing the risk for co-morbid conditions such as diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, and even certain cancers.2-4 The laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) procedure is a safe, effective, and durable treatment option for refractory morbid obesity and its related health consequences.5 This minimally invasive technique is now a popular approach for bariatric surgery, and it offers obvious advantages such as decreased operating time, shorter hospital stay (often same day surgery), and favorable complication rates as compared with other bariatric procedures.4,5