Gastric Band Surgery

Adjustable gastric banding, is a minimally invasive surgical weight loss procedure. Currently, the LAP-BAND and REALIZE Band are the two adjustable gastric bands that are approved for use in the United States by the FDA.

How Adjustable Gastric Band Works

Adjustable gastric band surgery is normally a laparoscopic procedure, which means that small “keyhole” incisions are made to allow the Dr. Bagnato to use small cameras and instruments to place the band.

During the procedure, the gastric band is placed around the upper part of the stomach and sewn in place. A balloon inside the band is filled with saline through a tube that’s connected to a port inserted under the skin and secured to the abdominal wall. The band can be tightened with the addition of saline and loosened with the removal of saline through the port.

Advantages of Gastric Band Surgery

  • It Induces Satiety: The gastric band works by reducing the size of the stomach pouch and allowing you to become full with less food. This significantly reduces the amount of calories you’re able to consume and accelerates your weight loss without making you feel dissatisfied and hungry.
  • It Is Adjustable: Making the band more or less restrictive is as easy as adding or removing fluid through the port that’s placed under the skin in the abdominal region.
  • It Is Minimally invasive: The surgery is performed laparoscopically and no organs are permanently altered, cut, or rerouted. This speeds up recovery time and reduces the risk of side effects associated with open surgeries. This makes it less invasive than gastric bypass or duodenal switch surgeries.
  • It Is Reversible: The LAP-BAND can be removed laparoscopically with no permanent alterations to the stomach.

There are two primary forms of gastric banding surgery. The LAP-BAND System was the first gastric banding device approved for use in the United States. It is considered the safest form of any bariatric surgery.

REALIZE Band is the latest addition to gastric band devices in used in the United States, and it offers several benefits similar to the Lap Band system.

Is Bariatric Surgery Right for You?

Although bariatric surgery is accepted as the most effective and longest lasting treatment for obesity, it is not the ideal choice for all overweight individuals. Deciding if weight loss surgery is the right choice for you is a personal decision that is best made when you have the most accurate and reliable information about what bariatric surgery will mean to you and the changes that you will need to make for it to be successful.

There are several factors worth considering when making this decision:

What to Expect From Gastric Banding

How much weight can you expect to lose after gastric band surgery? How fast will the weight come off? Ensuring you enter into weight loss surgery with realistic expectations and an understanding of how you can achieve the best possible results is critical to your weight loss success. More»

Complications of Gastric Banding

Any surgery can result in complications and gastric band surgery is no exception. While Dr. Bagnato’s experience and expertise along with his use of the latest in minimally invasive surgery technique go a long way to reducing your risk, it is still important that you understand the potential complications and what you can do to reduce them.More»

Criteria for Bariatric Surgery

Although bariatric surgery has proven to be an effective way for people to lose a significant amount of weight, it’s not the right solution for everyone. Patients must meet certain criteria before undergoing weight loss surgery. More»

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