Are you totally put under for this surgery or is it local? Do they cut you or is it done through laproscope/belly button?

General, and you'd definitely want it that way. I would imagine the feeling of not being able to breathe when filled up with all of the gas would be MOST unpleasant.

I have five incisions, two are the typical tiny laparoscopic instrument size, one is about 3", and two others are about 2", give or take a bit. (I haven't actually measured them.)

I have had a regular laparoscopy before and the instrument incisions measure up very close to my other scars.

Almost certain it is always General Anesthesia.

As far as technique, please follow this link and you'll find a webcast you can watch of an actual lapband placement:

Tampa General Hospital

General and lapascope.