Gastric banding surgery can help you lose weight if you are obese and haven't been able to reduce your weight by dieting or exercising. Placement of a gastric band reduces the size of your stomach, limiting the amount of food that you can eat at any one time. The Columbia University Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery reports that the amount of weight you lose with gastric banding depends on your motivation and commitment to a new lifestyle and eating habits.
Identification
During gastric banding surgery, your doctor places an adjustable band around the top portion of the stomach, creating a small pouch. Because the size of the pouch significantly reduces the amount of food that your stomach can hold, you will only be able to eat small portions of food and you will feel full for a longer period of time due to delayed gastric emptying. Your doctors can adjust the fit of the band if you are not losing enough weight or are experiencing side effects.
Types
The Lap-Band and the Realize Band are the two types of bands used for gastric banding surgery in the U.S., according to the Consumer Guide to Bariatric Surgery. The Lap-Band consists of a saline-filled band attached to a port placed just under the skin in the abdomen. Doctors use the port to inject additional saline through the skin to tighten the band or to remove saline to loosen the band.
The Realize Band system also uses a flexible band to control stomach size, but the saline solution is located inside a small balloon inside the band. Doctors attach the Realize injection port to the wall of the abdomen, just under the skin, and use the port to add or remove saline as needed.
Procedure
Doctors place both types of band using minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery. The Cleveland Clinic reports that laparoscopic surgery generally offers less scarring, a shorter operative time and a faster recovery. At the beginning of the procedure, your doctor makes three or more small incisions in the abdomen. She inserts tiny surgical instruments, including a small camera, into the openings. A video monitor allows your doctor to view the stomach as she places the band around the upper part of the stomach. After attaching the band, your doctor places the port under the skin. While the port is placed during surgery, the band is not filled until the stomach heals.
Recovery
You can expect to feel sore after surgery and may need to take medication prescribed by your doctor to reduce pain. Although you won't be able to do any heavy lifting or start exercising immediately, it is important to walk. The Consumer Guide to Bariatric Surgery reports that early walking will decrease the risk of developing a blood clot. Depending on the type of work you perform, you may be able to return to work in a week. You can expect to return to your doctor's office to have the port filled approximately one month to six weeks after surgery.
Weight Loss
The Columbia University Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery reports that the estimated weight loss after gastric banding surgery is approximately 40 to 60 percent of your excess weight, achieved over two years. Eating small healthy meals, drinking low calorie beverages, avoiding junk food and exercising regularly can help you reach your weight goal.
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