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.
The adjustable Gastric Band 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
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 out patient 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.
