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Gastric bandA Gastric Band is a restrictive device that is placed around the upper part of the stomach. The placement of the band will create a small pouch at the upper part of the stomach that will hold about 3.88 to 7.76 ounces of food for each meal. This pouch, then, fills rapidly with food as the band restricts the movement of food from there to the lower stomach. As the upper part of the stomach is filled, the brain receives a message that the entire stomach is full and this sensation helps the person to be hungry less often, to feel full more quickly and for a longer period of time and, to eat smaller portions. The result is weight loss over time. In the early days of Gastric Bands they were made from marlex mesh. Later new materials were introduced including vascular prosthesis made of dacron, gore-tex, covered mesh covered silicone, and others. Silicone was eventually identified as the best tolerated material for a gastric device and is what is primarily used today. Basically there are two types of Gastric Bands, adjustable and non adjustable. The non-adjustable Gastric Band was the first on the scene at the end of the seventies. Then, in 1986, the clinical use of the “adjustable silicone gastric band” was reported. The non adjustable band which had been used since 1983 was replaced with an adjustable band. The results showed lowered complication rates and better weight loss when compared with the non adjustable band which was used in 1983. Gastric Band surgery is suitable for people who are between 18 and 55 (although the procedure has been successfully performed on a 12 year old patient), have a Body Mass Index above 40, or those who are slightly over 99 pounds or more over their estimated ideal weight, have exhibited a failure of dietary or weight loss drug therapy for more than one year, have a history of obesity (generally 5 years or more), have a good understanding of the risks and benefits of the procedure, a willingness to comply with the considerable lifelong dietary restrictions that are required for long term success, and are willing to accept the operative risk. The normal patient loses 1 to 2 pounds per week repeatedly, however, heavier patients have often lost weight quicker in the beginning. This represents about 49 to 99 pounds the first year for most Gastric Band patients. It is important to keep in mind that while most patients drop the weight faster in the beginning, some studies have found that some patients will have the same percentage of excess weight loss and comparable ability to keep it off after only a couple of years. Gastric Band patients may have to work a little harder during the first couple of years, but the procedure tends to encourage better eating habits which, in turn, helps in producing long term weight stability. ↑ Back to Top
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