What is Gastric Band?
The gastric band, also known as adjustable gastric banding, is a restrictive surgical technique to combat obesity. This procedure aims to reduce the size of the stomach to limit the amount of food ingested and promote weight loss.
Simple and effective operation:
A silicone ring is placed around the upper part of the stomach, creating two compartments: a small upper pouch and a large lower pouch. The small pouch fills up quickly, which provides a feeling of fullness and slows the passage of food into the stomach.
Two possible types of surgery:
- Laparoscopic placement: preferred minimally invasive technique using small incisions.
- Open placement: more invasive technique using a larger incision.
Customized adjustment for optimal monitoring:
The gastric band is adjustable. A port placed under the skin allows it to be inflated or deflated with saline, depending on the patient’s needs and progress.
Who is it for? The gastric band is an option for people with morbid obesity (BMI over 40) or severe obesity (BMI over 35) with weight-related comorbidities.
Benefits:
- Gradual and sustainable weight loss
- Improvement of obesity-related comorbidities (diabetes, hypertension, etc.)
- Reversible technique
- Minimally invasive surgery
The gastric band is an effective technique for losing weight and improving the quality of life for people with obesity. However, it is important to be well informed and to be supported by a specialized medical team.