Gastric Band Adjustment

Procedure Information

What is Gastric Band Adjustment?

Gastric band adjustment, also known as laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LABG), is a type of weight-loss surgery. It is a laparoscopic procedure in which the surgeon inserts an adjustable band around the top part of your stomach. This creates a very small stomach pouch that helps you feel full after eating less food. This should help you lose weight. 

The band wrapped around your stomach can be adjusted by adding or removing fluid in a balloon around the band. This can be done through a port placed under the skin of the abdomen. 

What would I get this procedure?

LABG is done to help people lose weight when diet and exercise aren’t helping enough. It can also help reduce the risk of serious conditions that are related to obesity. These conditions include:

• Heart disease
• Hypertension
• Type 2 diabetes
• Stroke
• Hyperlipidemia
• Infertility
• Cancer

The procedure is recommended if:

• You have a body mass index (BMI) greater than 40.
• Your body mass index is from 35 to 39.9, and you have other health problems like diabetes or hypertension.

You should be aware that the surgery isn’t for everyone, and you have to meet specific criteria to qualify for the procedure.

What happens during the procedure?

The surgery takes one to two hours. It is done under general anesthesia, so you will be asleep and won’t remember anything. Most surgeries are done using laparoscopes, which involves inserting instruments through multiple small incisions in your abdomen.

The surgeon will put the adjustable gastric band around your upper stomach and tighten it. This will result in the formation of a small stomach pouch that holds a very small amount of food and will help you feel full.

What happens after the procedure?

Immediately after the surgery, you won’t be able to eat solid food as your gastrointestinal tract is healing. Nevertheless, you will be able to drink liquids. You will follow a special dietary plan that moves slowly from liquids to solid food. 

You won’t have any restrictions on what you can eat and how much. However, your doctor will recommend supplements like vitamin B-12, calcium, and iron as they may not get well-absorbed after the surgery. 

Conclusion

You should be aware that you may regain some of the weight that you lose. Following a healthy diet and getting regular exercise can help you avoid this. 

The surgery will provide long-term weight loss. In addition to weight loss, some people experience benefits related to their chronic diseases. These benefits include improving or resolving the following conditions:

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Hypertension
• Type 2 diabetes
• Hyperlipidemia
• Heart disease
• Infertility

Citations

Johns Hopkins (hopkinsmedicine): Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding

Mayo Clinic: Bariatric surgery