Gastric band surgery is used to reduce a patients food intake by reducing the size of the stomach. The procedure is performed to aid weight loss in obese patients. The surgery is usually done through a laparoscope. The patient is placed under general anesthesia and will be asleep during the surgery. Three small incisions are made in the abdomen, approximately 1” each, to allow the surgeon to insert the laparoscope, a camera and the required surgical tools to perform the procedure.
Carbon dioxide gas is used to expand the abdominal cavity to allow ease of access to the stomach. Once the surgeon has accessed the stomach. A hollow silicone band, attached to a small tube, is placed around the stomach. The band is tightened to reduce the amount of food the stomach can hold which makes the patient feel full faster resulting in a lower calorie intake.
Once the band is in place, the gas is released and the incisions are stitched closed. The surgery typically takes two hours or less. The tube, attached to the band, is just below the skin and can be accessed in the future to fill the band with saline to further restrict the stomach.