What is a Gastric Band (Gastric Banding)?
The gastric band – medically known as the adjustable gastric band – is a volume-restricting surgical method that was once commonly used in obesity surgery.
In this procedure, a special silicone band is placed on the upper part of the stomach, dividing the stomach into two parts:
- A small pouch at the top
- The main stomach area at the bottom
This structure allows the person to feel full after consuming a smaller amount of food, leading to weight loss.
Our Current Approach: We No Longer Use This Method as the First Surgical Option in Bariatric Surgery!
Is the Gastric Band Still Used in Revision Surgery?
Yes. In some revision bariatric surgical cases, especially in patients who have undergone sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass but have regained weight, placing a band on the stomach pouch is still a debated method.
These applications include:
- Banded Sleeve Gastrectomy: Placing a band on the stomach after sleeve gastrectomy surgery
- Banded Gastric Bypass: Adding a band to the small stomach pouch after gastric bypass surgery
However, these revision procedures are evaluated with limited case selection and only in special indications.
If such a procedure is being considered, it must be thoroughly assessed by an experienced bariatric surgeon.
For more information on this topic, please refer to our blog post: “Gastric Bypass Weight Regain Solution: What is Banded Bypass?”.
