. There are other weight-loss methods out there, but more of them a) don't do much permanently, b) require a lengthy hospital stay, and/or c) aren't covered by insurance. But with the LAP-BAND, you don't have to stay in the hospital, and there's no stomach cutting or stapling. Also, unlike most weight loss techniques, you don't have to starve to get and stay thin. They put the elastic band around your stomach and you're just not as hungry anymore. Once you find more information about LAP-BAND, you can be optimistic about FINALLY losing weight for good.