Gastric Bands

Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding  is less invasive than other surgical techniques and usually takes less than an hour to do. There is no need for cutting or stapling, so you avoid large incisions and scars; instead there are 5 small incisions made about your abdomen. During the procedure, a silicon band is buckled around the upper portion of the stomach, forming a small pouch or stoma that will serve as your new stomach. There is no cutting or stapling of the stomach involved.

Depending on your weight-loss progress, pregnancy, or illness, your band can be easily adjusted. Band adjustments are a regular and easily achieved part of follow-up care. 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. After the procedure, patients usually return to work and their normal activities in a few days.

Gastric Sleeve

The Sleeve Gastrectomy operation is done with 5 small incisions, and takes about an hour to do. The stomach is restricted by dividing it vertically and removing more than 85% of it. This part of the procedure is not reversible. The stomach that remains is shaped like a banana and measures from 1-2 ounces (40-80cc). The nerves to the stomach and the outlet valve (pylorus) remain intact with the idea of preserving the functions of the stomach while reducing the volume. By comparison, in a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, the stomach is divided, not removed, and the pylorus is excluded. Note that there is no intestinal bypass with this procedure, only stomach reduction.

Having the laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy involves an overnight stay in the hospital, but there is no nasogastric tube. You are able to return to work, resume heavy lifting and strenuous activity, in most cases, in about two weeks from the time of surgery. If you are able to do light duty at work, there is the possibility of going back to work sooner than two weeks for some patients.

We have performed bariatric surgery for patients in and between Atlanta, GA and Knoxville, TN. Attend a weight loss seminar today to learn more about bariatric surgery in Chattanooga, Tennessee at the Gastric Band Institute.