Gastric band surgery (otherwise known as laparoscopic adjustable gastric band surgery or lap band surgery) is a procedure which is usually performed on morbidly obese patients to help them lose weight by restricting the amount of food they can eat and increasing how satiated they feel by smaller amounts of food.
The laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (commonly referred to simply as a gastric band) is an adjustable band made of silicone which is placed and then tightened around the upper portion of the patient’s stomach.
This reduces the effective size of the stomach to only the area above the gastric band, the volume of which is usually comparable to the size of a fist or smaller.
The result of the stomach being much smaller is that the patient can no longer eat large amounts of food.
People who have had Gastric band surgery are very limited in the amount of food they can eat, as once the available stomach is filled, they no longer have the urge to eat. Moreover if a patient did force themselves to eat past what the newly limited stomach could handle, they would experience quite severe stomach pain and usually vomit up what they had eaten.
An important feature of the gastric band is that it can be adjusted after the initial surgery, depending on your personal situation. If you still find that you are consuming too much (including fluids), the band can be tightened. Conversely if you are finding it difficult to keep down sufficient foods and liquids, the band can be loosened to allow you to take in more sustenance. The surgery is specifically indicated for the morbidly obese as it can help the patient lose weight even if they cannot manage vigorous exercise.
If you are considering lap band surgery in Sydney or Newcastle please consult your doctor or contact us at Central Coast Surgery for a consultation about what might be the best weight loss solution for you.
