Adjustable Gastric Bands

• Adjustable Gastric Band (Mid-Band, Lap Band, & Swedish Band) – restrictive gastric operations, such as an adjustable gastric banding procedure, serve only to restrict and decrease food intake and do not interfere with the normal digestive process.
• In this procedure, a hollow band made of special material is placed around the stomach near its upper end, creating the small pouch and a narrow passage into the larger remaining portion of the stomach. This small passage delays the emptying of food from the pouch and causes a feeling of fullness. The band can be tightened or loosened over time to change the size of the passage. Initially, the pouch holds about 1 ounce of food and later expands to 2-3 ounces.
• The band can be tightened or loosened as required through a “fill” procedure done as an office procedure.

Advantages of Banding:

• Completely reversible procedure, no anatomical alteration
• Quick recovery from surgery, low risk of complications
• No strict supplement regime to follow, although patients are advised to take one good multivitamin a day
• Long term control
• Ability to completely adjust the restriction level

Disadvantages of Banding:

• Is NOT covered by MSP of British Columbia. Must be fully funded by the patient. Approximate cost is $15,000.00 to $17,000.00 CND.
• lower initial weight loss, restriction takes time to achieve with band fills
• Band fills necessary for the life of the band
• Restriction can be difficult to live with at times
• Some foods are not well tolerated while restricted, limited diet may be required while in the weight loss stage it is possible to sabotage the surgery by eating high calorie soft food that will pass through the pouch quickly without adequate aftercare and band fills, weight loss will be difficult to achieve
• Slippage of the band can occur which may result in band removal
• It can be difficult to achieve the optimum level of restriction and some patients find themselves swaying between being overfilled and under filled, and this can take several adjustments to get right