Advantages

It's less invasive than other surgical techniques. There is no need for cutting or stapling, so you avoid large incisions and scars. The band can  be adjusted. Depending on your weight-loss progress, pregnancy, or illness, your band may need to be adjusted. Band adjustments are a regular and easily achieved part of follow-up care. The process can be reversed. The Gastric Band can be removed if need be. If so, the stomach generally returns to its original form. It may require less hospital time than other surgical techniques. Patients normally leave the hospital in less than 24 hours after the surgery. Recovery may be quicker. After the procedure, patients usually return to work and their normal activities in a few days.

Advantages

1. Laparoscopic gastric banding is presently one of the most commonly performed weight loss operation outside of the United States (in Australia and Europe) and was approved in the United States by the FDA in June of 2001.

2. WEIGHT LOSS ranges from 40% to 60% of excess body weight in the first 2 years.

3. It is the LEAST INVASIVE SURGERY of all the weight loss surgeries available. Since there is no cutting or re-connecting of stomach or intestines, there is no risk of intestinal leak, dumping or food intolerance.

4. Patients who have the gastric band in place well adjusted DO NOT FEEL HUNGRY. This appears to be due to the stretching of the uppermost part of the stomach.

5. There is NO MALABSORPTION of medication or protein. This is particularly important in young women who want to get pregnant. NO VITAMIN DEFICIENCIES.

6. The majority of existing CO-MORBIDITIES ARE IMPROVED, or even cured.

7. Since the band is an implantable device, it can be REVERSED just by taking it out.

8. The surgery takes approximately 1 hour to perform and has a REDUCED HOSPITAL STAY. Patients normally leave the hospital the same day after surgery. You can be back at work in 3-5 days.

9. It is ADJUSTABLE. This does not require more surgery, but instead, a 10 minute visit to your surgeon’s office. As you lose weight, you will need the band tightened, therefore you must be committed to see your surgeon frequently during the first 1-3 years. In certain circumstances, you will need to eat more (ie. pregnancy, illness) so the band can be loosened.

10. NO “DUMPING SYNDROME” related to the reconfiguration of the digestive tract.

11. QUICKER RECOVERY: After the laparoscopic procedure, patients usually resume normal activities within 3-5 days, if there are no complications.

12. And most importantly: LESS CHANCE OF DEATH THAN ANY OTHER OPERATION FOR SEVERE OBESITY!!!

Considerations

1. You must re-learn how to eat. If you eat too fast, too much or don’t chew your food enough, you will vomit. Some foods may not pass through such as steak or bread.

2. Success of weight loss with the gastric band is 80% dependent on your commitment to follow-up with your surgeon every 6-8 weeks for at least the first year. Close monitoring of weight, eating habits and various symptoms will determine whether you need an adjustment of your band. This is the only way to assure significant long-term weight loss. If you do not follow-up with your surgeon, you will not lose weight.

3. Because the gastric band is an implantable device, it does carry the risk of slippage (causing complete blockage of the gastric pouch) or erosion into the stomach (causing weight loss to stop). In either of these cases, another laparoscopic surgery would be required to either re-position the band if it has slipped, or remove the band if it has eroded. This occurs rarely, but is a possibility.

4. The gastric band is not a perfect solution and will not result in weight loss if you start eating an excess of chocolate or high-calorie drinks (such as ice cream shakes and soda).

5. Although rare, there can be technical problems with the tube kinking or leaking, or the reservoir twisting. This may require a minor operation to correct.

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