Adjustable Gastric Band
The Adjustable Gastric Band, a hollow sylastic band, is wrapped around the top portion of the stomach during this minimally invasive procedure. The band creates a small stomach pouch that initially holds just 2 ounces of food but the band can be adjusted to allow up to 4 or 6 ounces of food.
The smaller stomach space creates a lasting feeling of fullness and the band also releases food into the lower portion of the stomach slowly for digestion. If necessary, the diameter of the band can be adjusted because it is lined with a thick walled balloon. Physicians fill the balloon with salt water through a tube which is attached to a special port located under the skin of the patient’s abdomen. Band adjustments are only made if Dr. Myers or your Fresh Start Bariatrics nurse determines that it’s time to increase or decrease the size of the stomach pouch to meet your weight loss goals. Adjustments are made in the office and require only a few minutes.
Why the adjustable gastric band works
By adjusting the gastric band, the outlet of the small gastric pouch can be set for your unique situation. Our goal is to keep you in the "green zone" so that you feel satisfied with small meals. We do not want the outlet to be too large, or you will not lose weight appropriately. However, if the outlet is too tight, you will not feel satisfied and your body will be craving food. This may cause you to seek unhealthy high-caloric fluids and not lose weight as you should. The flexibility of the gastric band allows physicians to adjust the size of the upper portion of your stomach to meet your unique needs.
Obtaining your best result
To obtain your best result from weight loss surgery, you will need to be seen in the office every month for the first year. During each visit, we will determine if an adjustment of the band is necessary. You should lose one to two pounds per week, feel satisfied with small meals and not be hungry between meals.
What to expect after surgery
After your gastric bypass surgery, the Fresh Start Bariatrics team will be there to give you extensive nutritional counseling, post-surgery follow-up visits, emotional and relational support along with therapy and long term weight management. Read more about what to expect after weight loss surgery here.
Decreasing the risks of laparoscopic adjustable gastric band
| Possible Risk | Preventive Measure or Solution |
| Weight gain prior to surgery | Low-carbohydrate meal replacement plan prior to surgery |
| Slippage of part of the stomach | The band is placed in a stable position through tissue behind the upper stomach and further secured with several sutures. |
| Erosion of the band through the stomach wall | The device has been modified to reduce the risk of this happening. The surgeon makes sure sutures are not placed too tightly around the thickest part of the band. If erosion occurs, the band would need to be removed and a new band placed at a later date. |
| Leak of salt solution from the system | A leak between the port and the tubing can easily be repaired with a minor operation to replace the port. |
| Deep vein thrombosis: Formation of blood clot in the veins of the legs or pelvis | In the hospital, you will be encouraged to walk soon after surgery and special stockings, leg or foot pumps and blood thinner injections could be used. |
|
Pulmonary embolism: A blood clot that travels from the legs or pelvis to the heart and lungs |
In the hospital, you will be encouraged to walk soon after surgery and special stockings, leg or foot pumps and blood thinner injections could be used.
If you are at high risk, Dr. Myers may send you to have a removable filter placed in the large vessel that returns blood to the legs so that large clots cannot reach the heart or lungs. |
| Incisional hernia: A defect in the abdominal wall | Surgical repair of defect. This is very rare in laparoscopic surgery. |
| Bowel obstruction: Scar tissue that creates obstruction or intestinal blockage | Surgical removal of scar tissue. |
| Mortality | This is a safe operation. The risk of mortality of a gastric bypass operation is less than 1%. Fresh Start Bariatrics has experienced zero mortalities in the surgery program at Riverside Methodist Hospital. |
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