Table Of Contents
- What is Gastric Banding?
- Quick facts on gastric banding
- Why is Gastric Banding done?
- What are the advantages of gastric banding?
- How is Gastric Banding conducted?
- After surgery care
- Bottomline
What is Gastric Banding?
Gastric banding is a weight-loss surgery performed laparoscopically. A band is wrapped around the upper region of your stomach to create a tiny pouch that can store food. The band restricts how much food you can consume by helping you think satisfied after only a few bites.
Your doctor can modify the band after surgery to make food move through your stomach more slowly or fast. Gastric banding is a type of bariatric surgery.
Quick facts on gastric banding
- It is a minimally invasive surgery that is a quick, reversible, and modifiable surgical procedure to reduce the stomach size to curb food intake.
- An inflatable band is placed on the top of the stomach that makes the person feel full with even a small amount of food.
- Gastric band surgery is a type of weight loss surgery.
- After the surgery, you will need to follow a strict diet for up to 6 weeks.
- Banding can help you significantly with weight loss.
Why is Gastric Banding done?
If you are having trouble losing weight even after following a proper dietary lifestyle and exercise or having weight-related health conditions such as diabetes, then gastric banding is an excellent option.
What are the advantages of gastric banding?
The laparoscopic gastric banding is done:
- Long-term weight loss for those having obesity
- Small chance wound infections after surgery
- Rapid recovery after laparoscopy
- No loss of nutrient absorption
- Lower risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, urinary incontinence, and other health conditions due to overweight
- Enhanced quality of life after surgery
You will also have the option to adjust the band, i.e., tighten it or loosen them. For instance, if not enough weight is lost or if you vomit after eating.
How is Gastric Banding conducted?
You will be given general anesthesia. As it is performed laparoscopically, you will be going home the same day. A gastric band is placed under general anesthesia.
The surgery is minimally invasive done through keyhole incisions. The surgeon makes 1-5 small surgical cuts in the abdomen. The procedure includes using a laparoscope (i.e., a long thin tube with a camera), and the surgery takes around 30-60 minutes.
The patient must not eat anything from midnight before the day of the surgery. People can resume their daily activities within 2-3 days but need to take one week’s leave from work.
After surgery care
Initially, food intake will be restricted.
- For the first few days, you will have only water and soups.
- From 4-6 weeks, soft foods can be introduced.
- Till four weeks, you can have liquids and blended foods such as pureed vegetables, yogurt, etc.
- After six weeks, you can resume with your normal food.
Bottomline
Obesity-related health risks are serious. If you have tried every weight-loss method and still find it difficult to lose weight, or if you are having health problems due to being overweight, then you can consider surgery. Make sure to talk to your health practitioner to know more about bariatric surgery, such as gastric banding.
