GASTRIC BANDING (LAPAROSCOPIC ADJUSTABLE BAND OR LAP-BAND)
Gastric banding is a restrictive surgical procedure that uses a band to reduce the size of your stomach without cutting or stapling. The aim is to slow and limit the amount of food that can be consumed at one time, helping you feel full faster and stay satisfied for longer periods of time, thus promoting gradual weight loss.
The procedure
An inflatable band is placed around the upper part of the stomach to make the stomach pouch smaller. It is adjustable (adjustments can be uncomfortable) and can be adapted to suit the individual patient. You will have a port attached to the band that is placed flat against the muscle wall, below the fat and skin of your abdomen. The band is adjusted or tightened by either adding or removing fluid through the port. It will need to be adjusted periodically to control hunger and enable weight loss to progress in the months following your surgery. Your first adjustment will be around 4–6 weeks following surgery, giving your body time to heal. It is common to experience swelling around the band.