Gastric banding, also referred to as laparoscopic gastric banding, is a reversible weight-loss surgery that involves placing a band around the upper portion of your stomach. This band creates a small pouch that stores food, while preventing food from traveling to the lower part of your stomach. This band reduces your stomach size, allowing you to feel full faster, which can lead to weight loss.
During Surgery
To place the gastric band around your stomach, your surgeon will make several small incisions in your abdomen. The surgeon will then insert a laparoscope, a small camera, into the opening to view the stomach. Using thin surgical instruments, your surgeon will insert a band through this small incisions and carefully wrap it around the upper portion of your stomach, separating the stomach into two sections. The band is then connected to a small structure, called a port, in the abdominal wall. This port can be used to adjust the tightness of the band to allow more food or less food into the stomach.
After Surgery
After surgery, it is important to follow the specific diet plan your doctor gives you. After you've had gastric banding, you'll probably be able to tolerate small amounts of pasta, rice, red meat and fiber-rich foods. Generally, you should consume three small meals and three snacks per day. Chew food completely and thoroughly. You should also wait at least one hour after eating before drinking anything.
According to the Columbia University Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery, you can expect to lose 40 to 60 percent of your total body weight within two years following gastric banding surgery.
Considerations
Unlike other weight-loss surgeries, gastric banding does not involving any surgical manipulation of the stomach itself. Your surgeon will not directly cut or staple the stomach. Because of this, gastric banding has less potential for serious side effects. That being said, it is still possible to have side effects. Some possible side effects include bleeding, infection, erosion of the gastric band, band slippage and gastroesophageal reflux. According to the Consumer Guide to Bariatric Surgery, the risk of death is 1 in 2,000.
Cost
The cost of gastric banding for weight loss can range from $17,000 to $30,000. Insurance companies may cover all or part of the cost, depending on your individual circumstances.
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