Gastric banding is a restrictive surgical procedure. During this procedure, two medical devices are implanted in the patient: a silicone band and an injection port. The silicone band is placed around the upper part of the stomach and moulds the stomach into two connected chambers. The injection port is attached to the abdominal wall, underneath the skin. The port is connected to the band with soft, thin tubing.

The band is adjustable. Adjustments are made by your doctor using a needle to inject saline solution into your band through the port.

Adding saline increases the amount of restriction provided by the band, helping patients feel fuller sooner and with less food.

Gastric banding patients typically lost 47% of their excess weight. (Excess weight is the difference between your existing weight and the ideal weight for your height).

Health Benefits

Studies found that gastric banding:
- Resolved type 2 diabetes in 47.8 percent of patients
- Resolved high blood pressure in 38.4% of patients
- Improved high cholesterol in 78.3% of patients

Quality of Life

One meta-analysis stated that for bariatric surgery patients who experienced significant weight loss:
- Overall quality of life improved greatly
- They experienced improved physical functioning and appearance
- They experienced improved social and economic opportunities

Potential Concerns of Gastric Banding

- Gastric banding can help you feel satisfied sooner and with less food, but it won�t eliminate the desire to eat. You will need to follow your specific diet and exercise guidelines provided by your surgeon to achieve success.

- Gastric banding requires more intensive follow-up care than most other bariatric surgeries.This is mostly because the band is adjustable. Keep in mind that even after reaching and maintaining your success weight, you may still need to see your healthcare professional for further adjustments.