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Gastric Band

What Is a Gastric Band?

Have you and your doctor decided that bariatric surgery is the right route for you? If so, there are a few options you can choose from to help you lose weight fast including:

  • Gastric banding
  • Gastric bypass
  • Lap-band surgery
  • Gastric band hypnosis

During in any of these surgeries, the surgeon uses several techniques to reduce the size of your stomach which means after the procedure you will feel full faster, consume less and lose weight.

Gastric Band Surgery

Gastric band surgery is an alternative to bariatric surgery

What is Gastric Band Surgery?

During this type of gastric bypass, the surgeon uses a laparoscopy and places and adjustable band around the upper part of the stomach. The silicone band squeezes the stomach, turning it into a pouch with an inch-wide opening. After surgery, the stomach is only able to hold a small quantity of food.

A plastic tube also runs from the band to a device placed just under your skin. Saline can be either injected or removed through the skin and can flow in or out of the band. Saline fills the band, making it tighter. In so doing, the band can be tightened or loosened as necessary to reduce gastric banding side effects and help to improve weight loss.

The Results of a Gastric Band

A gastric band has been known to help patients loose up to 40% of excess weight. The results do, of course, vary widely.

A gastric band procedure is one of the least invasive bariatric surgeries and is also considered one of the safest. It is a reversible procedure which in time allows the stomach to return to its normal size.

Are There Any Side Effects?

There are very few side effects to this type of weight loss surgery. Common problems include:

  • Minor surgical complications – such as adjustment of the device; minor bleeding or wound infections.
  • Vomiting and nausea which can be reduced by adjusting the tightness of the gastric band.

Gastric banding, unlike gastric bypass, doesn’t tend to interfere with the absorption of food. That means that vitamin deficiencies after the surgery are very rare.

Ever Heard of Vertical Banded Gastroplasty?

This type of procedure also involves placing a plastic band around the stomach. The surgeon additionally staples the stomach just above the band, forming a small pouch.

The surgery results in less weight loss compared to other bariatric surgeries and there is a higher complication rate.

A Mixed Surgery

An important part of nearly all weight loss procedures is restrictive surgery. During gastric bypass, the restrictive part of the surgery is done first. The stapling of the stomach creates a pouch and the pouch is then connected to a part of the small intestine, resulting in less food being eaten and absorbed.

What To Do If Gastric Band Surgery Is For You

If you and your surgeon have decided on gastric band surgery, you’ll need to look at the gastric band surgery cost. Medical aids in this country typically don’t cover bariatric surgery and you may need to apply for medical finance. Click on the banner today and find out if you qualify or go straight to the Incred website .