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Gastric band surgery is a type of weight-loss surgery where the size of your stomach is reduced using an adjustable band so that you can only eat small meals.  On average, patients tend to lose up to 50% of their excess body weight with this procedure.

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Why choose a gastric band?

• Less invasive than other weight-loss procedures
• Reversible procedure
• Adjustable treatment customised to you and your needs
• Shorter stay in hospital and shorter recovery time compared to other weight-loss procedures

See our handy guide to help you compare weight-loss operations.

About the operation

The operation is done as a laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery procedure under general anaesthetic.  It usually takes 30 minutes to one hour. The operation involves placing an adjustable band around the upper part of your stomach to create a pouch.  This pouch fills up quickly and the food you eat then passes slowly through a narrow opening created by the band, into the lower part of your stomach.  The size of the opening determines how quickly food leaves your stomach and can be adjusted after surgery.  The food then passes normally through the rest of your digestive system.

The band is connected via a thin tube to an 'access port' underneath your chest or below your ribs.  Four to six weeks after the operation, a fine needle is passed through the skin into the port to add or remove saline fluid which will tighten or loosen the band.  You are likely to have your band adjusted five or six times in the first year as your weight changes.

Is the gastric band operation reversible?

Yes.  The band can be removed at any time, but if you do have it removed, you are likely to regain weight, so the plan is that the band will stay in place permanently.

Your recovery

Provided you are well enough, you may be able to go home the same day of your operation.  Otherwise, you will be required to stay overnight in hospital.  Full recovery from a gastric band can take one to two weeks.

What are the risks?

Gastric band surgery is generally a very safe operation.  Side-effects are mostly temporary but include:

• Some bruising, pain and swelling of the skin around the healing wounds.
• Feeling or being sick after eating, especially if you try to eat too much.

As with any operation, there are risks associated with having a general anaesthetic but complications specific to a gastric band operation are:

• Damage to other organs in your abdomen which may require further surgery to repair.
• Your band may slip out of place, leak, or work its way through the stomach wall.  If this happens, the band may need to be repositioned, removed or replaced.
• There is a risk you may develop gallstones if you lose weight quickly.
• There is a chance your surgeon may need to convert your keyhole procedure to open surgery which means making a bigger cut on your abdomen.