Adjustable gastric banding is a form of restrictive weight loss surgery (bariatrics) designed for obesity patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or greater - or between 35 – 40 with those who have co-morbidities that are known to improve with weight loss. The gastric band is an inflatable silicone prosthetic device which is placed around the top portion of the stomach via keyhole surgery laparoscopic surgery.
Gastric banding as an alternative to other weight loss surgeries
* Lower mortality rate, only 1 in 2000 versus 1 in 200 for Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery
* Fully reversible, stomach returns to normal if the band is removed
* No cutting or stapling of the stomach
* Short hospital stay
* Quick recovery
* Adjustable without additional surgery
* No malabsorption issues (because no intestines are bypassed)
* Fewer life threatening complications (see complications table for details)