Laparoscopic Gastric Banding

Laparoscopic Gastric Banding is a restrictive procedure because it limits the amount of food you can eat at one time. During this procedure, the gastric band is placed around the stomach, dividing it into two parts: a small upper pouch and a lower stomach. The upper pouch holds about 4 ounces (1/2 cup) of food. This helps a person feel full sooner and longer than usual. As you eat less food, your body will stop storing excess calories and start using its fat reserves as its energy supply.

Pros

  • A proven method of weight loss and the resulting resolution of many obesity-related conditions
  • Reversible
  • Usually performed as day surgery/outpatient surgery
  • Often, lose about 50% of your excess weight

Cons

  • Requires patient to return to surgeon’s office for saline fills injected into the port to tighten the band as needed to keep the pouch small (requires patient compliance)
  • The patient can over-eat in some cases and can stretch the pouch out so that it can hold more than it should
  • The band may slip or erode into the stomach and require another surgery to reposition or remove it
  • May lead to reflux or heartburn
  • Revisions and reversals due to inadequate weight loss are more common with this procedure than with others

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