What is gastric banding and how does it work?

You've heard of this procedure, but don't know exactly what gastric banding is or how it works? Are you interested in finding out if it is an alternative to other gastric banding procedures? weight loss surgeries and how effective is it? Then read on. In this post we show you what the gastric band is and how it works in detail.

What is gastric banding?

The tape or gastric banding, also called cerclage or gastric banding, is a surgical procedure where a silicone ring-shaped device is placed around the upper part of the stomach to reduce its space, limit the amount of food you can consume and make you feel full faster and with less food.

How does the gastric band work?

In essence, with the gastric banding procedure, what the patient is bariatric surgeon is to surround the stomach with an adjustable silicone ring through a laparoscopy, this ring is used to reduce the space in the stomach, which in turn makes you feel less hungry and fills you up more easily.

Since the operation is performed laparoscopically, it is minimally invasive, so it does not require large incisions, which makes it much safer and faster. The process takes about an hour at most.

Another highlight of how the gastric band works is that it is adjustable, which means that the bariatric surgeon can control, at the time of the procedure, how tight or loose the band is, something that will influence how fast the food enters your stomach and will have a noticeable effect on your weight loss.

Why is it done?

The gastric banding is used as a treatment for morbid obesity and to address health problems caused by being overweight. It is especially recommended if you have tried to lose weight with other methods, such as diets or physical exercise, without success and when you have suffered from obesity for more than 5 years.

Specifically, and as stated in the Cleveland Clinic on its website, is a viable option if you have a body mass index between 35 and 40 and health problems such as sleep apnea, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and heart disease related to being overweight.

Prior care

Care prior to an operation gastric banding include a complete medical evaluation to determine if the treatment is safe for you and in your best interest to solve your weight problems, and also involves certain changes in your diet and lifestyle to ensure that you increase your chances of success and reduce your risks.

The main pre-gastric banding care are:

1. You will have to stick to a dietBefore undergoing the procedure, you will have to follow a strict diet that your bariatric surgeon will prescribe. The idea is to reduce the consumption of certain foods to facilitate the procedure and promote weight loss.
2. No alcoholic or sweetened beverages for a time interval to be defined by your bariatric surgeon. 
3. You will have to quit smokingBefore the operation, and for a period of time to be established by your surgeon, you will not be able to smoke.

Gastric banding aftercare

Post-operative care gastric banding operation include regular medical follow-up, permanent changes in your lifestyle and eating habits, as well as periodic adjustments of the band to ensure its continued effectiveness. 

Some of the most important aftercare that we can highlight are:

1. You will have to exercise regularly with low-intensity physical activity.
2. You will have to chew your food much slower.This is to facilitate the digestive process and to promote weight loss.
3. You will have to wait 20 seconds after each mouthful eaten.This way you avoid stomach problems. Remember that your stomach will work a little differently with a gastric band adjusting it. 
4. You will have to follow a new, much more balanced and healthier diet.. Your bariatric surgeon will define it based on your needs and medical history. Following it to the letter will be critical for you to achieve the weight loss you are looking for and to minimize the risk of health complications.

Above all, it is very important that you maintain communication with your bariatric surgeon and that you do not miss medical check-ups, following the indications will help you achieve the results you need.

How effective is gastric banding?

Gastric banding can help you lose from 40% to 60% of excess weight. However, it is not the most effective bariatric operation, as it does not restrict the food you eat, offers slower weight loss and has a significant chance of the dreaded rebound effect.

That said, being reversible and minimally invasive, gastric banding is a procedure suggested as a less drastic alternative to overweight problems, and in those cases in which the patient does not want to undergo more definitive interventions.

Alternatives to gastric banding

There are many alternatives to gastric banding, each with its pros and cons. The gastric balloon is one of those preferred alternatives, it is much less invasive, it does not even require surgical intervention or incisions, and it is reversible and temporary. It has a similar efficacy to gastric banding.

On the other hand, the gastric sleeve and the gastric bypass are other much more effective alternatives, with a high success rate, offer a significant weight loss in a short period of time, but require a surgical intervention, which implies certain risks and side effects, as well as a slower recovery.

In any case, it will be your bariatric surgeon who will tell you which is the ideal option for you based on your health conditions and your medical history. Remember, each case is unique, so you will need the assessment and studies of your bariatric surgeon to find the ideal bariatric surgery for you.

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