The formal name is a Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band.
A gastric band is just what the name says, a band around your stomach. It is performed using laparoscopy.
- Your surgeon places a ring with an inner inflatable band.
- This creates a small pouch at top of your stomach.
- When you eat, the food fills the pouch
- This makes you feel full after eating only a small amount of food
- The inflatable band has a circular balloon inside that is filled with salt solution
- Your surgeon adjusts the size of the opening from the pouch to the rest of your stomach by injecting the salt solution.
After surgery, you will need several follow-up visits to adjust the size of the band opening.
- If the band is too restrictive, your surgeon can reduce the size to allow more food to enter your stomach.
- Likewise, the band may be increased by adding more salt solution, thus making it more restrictive
- The band may also be removed if it is causing you complications.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved use of the gastric band for
- People with a BMI of 30 or more
- People who also have at least one health problem linked to obesity.