Realize Gastric Band
Gastric banding is a restrictive surgical procedure. During this procedure, two medical devices are implanted in the patient: a silicone band and an injection port. The silicone band is placed around the upper part of the stomach and molds the stomach into two connected chambers. The injection port is attached to the abdominal wall, underneath the skin. The port is connected to the band with soft, thin tubing.
The band is adjustable. Adjustments are made by your healthcare professional using a needle to inject saline solution into your band through the port. Adding saline increases the amount of restriction provided by the band, helping patients feel fuller sooner and with less food.
Excess Weight Loss:
Gastric banding patients typically lost 47% of their excess weight.
Health Benefits:
Studies found that gastric bypass:
- Resolved type 2 diabetes in 47.8 percent of patients and often resolved the disease within days of surgery.
- Resolved high blood pressure in 38.4% of patients.
- Improved high cholesterol in 78.3% of patients.
Quality of Life:
One meta-analysis stated that bariatric surgery patients who experienced significant weight loss had:
- Overall quality of life improved greatly.
- They experienced improved physical functioning and appearance.
- They experienced improved social and economic opportunities.
Recovery:
Your healthcare team will advise you when to return to work and when you are able to resume normal activities.
Potential Concerns of Gastric Banding:
Gastric banding can help you feel satisfied sooner and with less food, but it wont eliminate the desire to eat. You will need to follow your specific diet and exercise guidelines provided by your surgeon to achieve success.
Gastric banding requires more intensive follow-up care than most other bariatric surgeries. This is mostly because the band is adjustable. Keep in mind that even after reaching and maintaining your success weight, you may still need to see your healthcare professional for further adjustments.
