Gastric band surgery is performed using a laparoscope. The surgeon makes three small surgical incisions in the patient’s abdomen and inserts a camera, a lighted scope, and surgical tools through them. The surgeon will see everything via a monitor. The surgeon creates a small pouch of the stomach making it the new upper stomach. So that when the patient eats food this pouch fills up quickly and they feel full before they can eat too much food. A saline-filled band is then placed around the opening between this new pouch and the lower portion of the stomach. This band can be adjusted by injecting or removing fluid from it with the help of a port placed under the skin which is connected by tubing to it.

Gastric band surgery is an extremely safe weight loss surgery that can be performed laparoscopically. This means that the surgeon will make 4 small incisions in the abdominal area and insert a tiny video camera and special surgical tools to operate. The advantage of this surgery is that it causes less pain and leaves minimal scarring compared to open gastric band surgery (banded gastroplasty).

Preparing for gastric band surgery can be a difficult and stressful process, but it doesn't have to be. Many doctors require patients to prove their commitment to a healthy lifestyle before going forward with the surgery. Determining how best to show your dedication could be the key to becoming approved for the surgery.

Approximately two weeks before gastric band surgery, patients may be asked to begin eating five to six small meals per day. This will help prepare them for the changes they will experience following the surgery.

However, gastric band surgery is a serious procedure. To qualify for this procedure, a patient must be in reasonably good health and have tried everything to lose weight through conventional dieting and exercise. And before surgery, some requirements must be met.

Gastric band surgery is primarily performed laparoscopically which makes the recovery period from this type of weight loss procedure quicker than that of a traditional bypass. Typically, patients go home in a few days and can return to work one week after surgery as long as their jobs are not too physically demanding. Patients can resume all normal activities six weeks after lap band surgery.

Gastric band surgery is usually very safe, but there are some risks, as with all surgical procedures. The risks can increase based on the weight of the patient, so doctors may set a goal weight and require the patient to reach that goal before performing the surgery.

As with any surgery, there are risks associated with gastric band surgery. Common complications reported are nausea and/or vomiting, ulceration of the stomach at the site of the band, indigestion, dehydration, and regaining weight. More rarely patients may also have trouble breathing, heart problems, and blood pressure problems.

The gastric band fill is the process of injecting saline into the tube port just below the skin. The saline works to fill/tighten the band and narrow the stomach, further restricting food intake. An empty lap band takes approximately one hour to fill. You will be given an IV line to keep you hydrated and receive antibiotics through it as well. It does not require sedation, but we give you medication for anxiety and pain relief if needed.

The band is attached to an access port that sits just below the skin. This access port is connected by a subcutaneous tube to the band. Fills may be performed periodically, especially if the patient has reached a weight loss plateau. The fill is a painless procedure and is typically done by the surgeon that performed the surgery.

You may experience some discomfort or pain immediately following your surgery. This is a normal side effect of the surgery and medications can be prescribed to reduce the pain or discomfort. The pain should be completely gone, and you should be able to resume normal activities within six to eight weeks. You will experience slow weight loss at first. Initially, you’ll lose two to three pounds per week.

Typically, patients lose about one pound per week for the year following gastric band surgery. Average weight loss is forty per cent of excess weight in the first year and an additional ten to twenty per cent in the second year.

Qualified and experienced bariatric surgeons are your best option for gastric band surgery. When choosing a surgeon, ask how many surgeries they perform a year, and try to find a surgeon that performs at least 100 or more gastric band surgeries per year. Also, choose a surgeon with a well-trained team of nurses, psychologists and nutritionists to help ensure that your overall health will be monitored during the surgery, follow-up appointments and throughout your post-surgery life.