Thinking about weight loss surgery?

A gastric band can be helpful in reducing the amount of food someone eats, thereby contributing significantly to weight loss. The procedure is normally carried out using keyhole surgery, with a band (or belt) being placed around the top portion of your stomach. This means you feel “full” after eating only a small portion of food.

There are three major advantages to using a gastric band:

• It’s adjustable – so you and your doctor can control your weight loss without unpleasant symptoms caused by too much restriction
• The key hole surgery means that you don’t need a long recovery period
• It’s reversible – although a gastric band is meant to be in place for life it can be removed if circumstances warrant it, with no permanent changes to your stomach

Gastric bands have now been used worldwide since the 1980s and by and large they work successfully – on average, people lose between 50% and 65% of their excess weight in the first two years after the band has been fitted.

While patients will start to feel the benefits long before the two year mark, it’s important to remember that a gastric band can only do so much – it’s vital to eat healthily and take plenty of exercise as well.

Like any form of surgery, having a gastric band fitted carries risks, and these are always higher if you are excessively overweight. Statistics suggest that 1 person in 10 with a gastric band needs further surgery at some stage in the future.

After the band has been fitted it will probably be adjusted two or three times in the early months to optimise the setting for your weight loss programme. Once that’s been done, the band is maintained at that level until you’ve achieved your weight loss target.

For more information please visit  http://www.thehospitalgroup.org/gastric-band.php