Understanding Gastric Band Surgery for Weight Management

Overview

Gastric Band is a type of weight loss surgery that involves placing an inflatable band around the upper part of the stomach to create a small pouch above the band and the rest of the stomach below the band. This procedure reduces the amount of food the stomach can hold, thereby causing weight loss. The band's tightness can be adjusted by injecting or removing saline solution through a port placed under the skin.

Benefits

• Promotes significant long-term weight loss
• Adjustability allows individualized degree of restriction for ideal results
• Reversible procedure with no permanent changes to digestive tract
• Reduces the risk of obesity-related conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and sleep apnea
• Improves quality of life and psychological status

Risks and Considerations

• Band slippage or erosion into the stomach
• Infection in the port area
• Obstruction of the stomach
• Possible nutrient deficiencies
• Possibility of insufficient weight loss or weight regain

Recovery and Timeline

Most patients can return to normal activities within 1 to 2 weeks. However, diet progression and adjustment of the band requires several weeks to months.

Success Rate

Approximately 50-60% of patients achieve successful weight loss over the long-term.

Cost Information

$15,000 to $25,000

Eligibility Criteria

• Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or more, or 35 if associated with significant obesity-related complications
• Failure of non-surgical weight loss methods
• Understanding of the procedure and willingness to adhere to the lifelong changes required
• Absence of medical conditions that could make surgery dangerously risky
• No dependency on alcohol or illicit drugs