Weight Loss Surgery | Adjustable Gastric Band

Adjustable gastric banding is a procedure that involves inserting an adjustable, silicone band around the top part of the stomach to reduce the amount of food one can eat as well as reduce the rate at which the food is consumed. This is achieved by dividing the stomach into two parts: a small upper pouch and a lower stomach.

The band consists of a soft, locking silicone ring that is connected to an infusion port and accessed relatively easy with a needle after surgery. Injection of normal saline into the port leads to tightening of the band, thus limiting one's food intake.

Band adjustments are done during a patient's regular follow-up visits over the first two years after the surgery. With adjustable band surgery, there is no cutting of the stomach or the intestines. This procedure has the lowest morality rate among weight loss procedures at 0.2 percent.

Strict adherence to follow-up visits allows for an early intervention with any risks one may experience after surgery. These risks include band slippage, erosion, pouch prolapse, and port site infection.

Advantages of the Gastric Band:

• One year after surgery, weight loss can average 45 percent of excess body weight.
• No intestinal re-routing, cutting or stapling of the stomach and intestines.
• Lower risk of post-surgical nutrition complications.
• Small incisions and minimal scarring.
• Shorter hospital stay and recovery time.
• Return to work more quickly.
• The procedure is reversible.

Weight loss with the adjustable band is usually slower than with Roux-en-Y surgery, although some studies have shown that long-term weight loss is comparable with both procedures.

Sometimes the band may slip or migrate and may need to be surgically re-adjusted or removed.

Long term, some patients may experience dilatation of their esophagus, requiring adjustment or removal of their band.