Gastric Band FAQ

Gastric Banding is a powerful tool that allows you to gain control of your weight.

If you have tried every diet and weight loss programme but continually failed in your attempts, the Gastric Band could be the solution to your problem. By joining the growing number of NOSC patients you can be sure that our professionally qualified team will give you the support and dedicated total individual patient care you need to achieve significant weight loss.

What is a Gastric Band?

The Gastric Band is a small inflatable band that fits around the top of your stomach to restrict your food intake and control your hunger. When the band is inflated it creates a small upper stomach pouch and a narrowed outlet, limiting the stomach’s capacity to intake food and increasing the feeling of fullness. The combination of these two effects results in significant weight loss.

Adjustable Gastric Banding has been used in hundreds of thousands of patients throughout the world over many years, and has been shown to be:

• Safe
• Effective
• Well tolerated
• Easily reversed
• Does not require invasive surgery
• Associated with few complications in experienced hands

Am I a suitable candidate?

If you have followed every diet regime going in an attempt to shift your excess weight and feel that you need a long term aid to help you to control your weight, then Gastric Banding may be the solution for you.

To qualify, your BMI should be over 30 and you should understand that you will need to work with your Gastric Band to achieve significant long-term results.

Why might I choose a Gastric Band for my weight loss procedure?

Years of losing and gaining weight results in repeated failed behaviour around food and eating. If you truly believe that you do not have the discipline to maintain your weight loss and feel that you would benefit from the safety net and reassurance of a long term procedure, the Gastric Band may be the answer for you.

What happens during the procedure?

The Gastric Band operation takes around 30 minutes and is carried out under general anaesthesia via laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery. Four tiny incisions are made to the upper abdomen and the band is fitted around the top of the stomach with the use of a special telescope and camera. A fifth incision is made at the site of the access port.

Attached to the silicone band is a fine soft silicone tube. At the time of your operation the surgeon brings this tube through most of your abdominal wall from the inside. To the end of this tube is attached a small port.

This is fixed under your skin and allows your surgeon to add or remove small amounts of sterile saline into your band system. In doing this it is possible to adjust the amount of restriction the band is placing around your stomach. The Gastric Band will dictate how quickly food will enter your stomach.

What is a band adjustment?

Adjustments are made by adding or removing fluid from the band via the small access port which is located just under your skin. This is a quick 10-minute outpatient procedure. Your band is usually filled for the first time six weeks after your surgery.

As the purpose of the band is to severely restrict your capacity to eat, you must be prepared to adopt a very different eating pattern. Meals are going to be small, although most patients are able to eat normal food. Some people find this adjustment to their eating habits easier to make than others.

What is laparoscopic surgery?

Laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery is a minimally invasive surgical technique in which surgery is performed using slender surgical instruments, passed through small incisions in the abdomen. This creates less tissue damage than large, open surgical procedures. After laparoscopic surgery patients report much less pain and fewer wound complications. Patients also recover faster and are able to resume normal activities sooner.

What happens after the Gastric Band operation?

Immediately after the procedure you’ll be required to stick to a liquid only diet for about two weeks. You will gradually progress to blended then soft foods and then on to normal foods in small portions.

You will have lots of support to help you through this time. One of our bariatric
nurses will contact you daily for the first week and then our nutritional support team will take over. They will guide you through the dietary requirements until you feel confident about your new way of eating and living with your gastric band.

Our Nutritional Support Team will keep you motivated and help you address issues around food that you may want to work through.