Gastric Band is the least performed of the three main weight loss procedures, making up about 3% of the bariatric surgeries in 2016. An inflatable silicone band is used to squeeze the stomach creating a small pouch that restricts the amount of food that is allowed into the stomach. The band is connected to a port under the skin that is used to fill the band every few months, squeezing the stomach even more. Make sure your insurance carrier covers these band fills. The benefits are that there is no cutting of the stomach or intestines. This is offset by the foreign band that occasionally causes complications such as breaking, slipping, or flipping of the port. Weight loss is less with this procedure than with the Bypass and Sleeve. Overall, the chance of a life threatening complication is less with the Gastric band, but you should expect more re-operations with the Gastric Band after placement.
