About the Gastric Band
In the 1980s, Dr. Lubomyr Kuzmak invented the first gastric band with an adjustable balloon along the inner circumference. Scientists improved upon this original design and Dr. Mitiku Belachew (Belgium) placed the first gastric band in 1993. Surgeons have now performed more than 150,000 gastric band procedures, making it the number one bariatric surgical procedure worldwide.
The gastric bypass is still the most common bariatric procedure performed in the U.S. However, since the FDA approved the gastric band for use in the U.S. in 2001, the number of patients having gastric band surgery has increased rapidly. More patients choose the band after learning about the procedure and health insurance coverage approval improves.
There are currently two manufacturers of gastric bands for use in the United States: Allergan and Ethicon. Our Ohio practice is among the first to be performing surgeries with the new Realize band from Ethicon.
Technique
Weight loss occurs because you get full on small meals and are not hungry between meals, therefore decreasing your calorie consumption. It also diminishes the background hunger that is so typical of dieting. Patients say they lose their obsession with food and are satisfied with smaller meals. Although the gastric band is not meant to be removed, it is easily reversible. The stomach is not permanently altered by gastric band surgery. If the band is removed, however, it is quite likely that you will quickly regain weight.
Results
Since all weight loss operations are simply tools for helping you lose weight, the long-term results of all weight loss operations are essentially the same. Long-term, you can lose just as much weight with a gastric band as you can with any other weight loss operation and the gastric band is at least 10 times safer than the gastric bypass. It is true that if you do everything right after surgery, the success rate is 100 percent. If you are sabotaging your weight loss operation, the results are poor.
Like all weight loss operations, studies show that gastric band patients will lose between 50 to 75 percent of their excess weight long-term. The amount of weight loss varies, and is dependent upon how well you are using the tool, making wise food choices and exercising. You can lose 100 percent of your excess weight if you use the tool to its maximal effectiveness.
Gastric band patients typically lose weight more slowly than gastric bypass patients, but the weight loss is about the same two years after surgery. The slower weight loss is actually healthier for you and does not come from muscle wasting and protein malnutrition (which are typical with malabsorptive operations such as gastric bypass). Vitamin deficiencies are uncommon in gastric band patients because there is no malabsorption. Without question, the gastric band is the lowest-risk weight loss operation.
The gastric band procedure is performed laparoscopically through several small incisions with the aid of a fiberoptic camera and specialized instruments. This minimizes post-operative pain and recovery time. During the surgery, the adjustable gastric band is placed around the top part of the stomach to create a small (20cc) gastric pouch without cutting the intestines. A small section of tubing connects the band to the adjusting port that is placed underneath the skin in the abdominal wall, allowing easy access for later adjustments during office visits. The inner lining of the band is a balloon that can be filled with saline solution to narrow the stomach opening, thus making you full and not hungry after a small meal. The saline is added via the band’s access port with a needle and syringe. The access port is hidden well below the skin and does not interfere with activity or require special care. Adjustments involve placing a needle into the port and adding or withdrawing saline. This allows you to have an individualized weight loss program, which can be customized to your needs. Patients report minimal discomfort associated with adjustments of the band. The schedule of adjustments varies with each patient. Typically, the first adjustment is done four to six weeks after surgery and as needed thereafter to achieve the goal of a healthy weight loss of 1-2 pounds per week.