A gastric band is used to help people who are severely overweight (obese) to lose weight . An adjustable silicone band is placed around the upper part of the stomach. This creates a small upper stomach pouch. The food collects there and is only slowly passed on to the lower stomach area, which means that those affected feel full faster and for longer. Here you will find further information as well as selected gastric band specialists and centers.
Being extremely overweight not only restricts the quality of life. It can cause serious concomitant diseases that can lead to a shortened lifespan. Those affected should first try to reduce their weight through conservative measures. If this is not possible, a gastric band may be an option to prevent or improve accompanying illnesses.
Prerequisites for the use of a gastric band are
People with a BMI of over 40 should also be treated immediately.
German health insurance companies may cover the costs of gastric band surgery. The above-mentioned conditions must be met for this.
In some cases, a gastric band is also used to provide additional support for a previously placed gastric bypass.
The following factors speakagainst gastric band surgery:
Psychological and hormonal causes of obesity must also be ruled out before a surgical recommendation can be made.
Nowadays, gastric banding is performed as part of a minimally invasive laparoscopy (the so-called "keyhole procedure").
A gastric band is a silicone tube that is placed around the upper part of the stomach. This creates a small pouch that can only hold small amounts of food. As a result, it signals a feeling of fullness much more quickly.
The artificial stomach pouch prevents the affected person from ingesting large quantities of solid food at once.
Nowadays, only adjustable gastric bands with a fluid chamber are used. This can be filled from the outside with sterile saline solution via a balloon inserted under the skin (a so-called port system).
By changing the amount of fluid, the band width can be adjusted to the individual treatment goal of the person affected. A balloon is used for this purpose, which is connected to the fluid chamber via a small tube.
The surgeon makes several small incisions. The gastric band and balloon are inserted through these incisions.
The gastric band is adjusted for the first time after about a month by injecting saline solution into the balloon using a special syringe. The more saline solution is injected, the greater the constriction of the stomach and vice versa.
In most cases, a gastric band can remain in the affected person's body for life. It can be removed again if necessary.
There is an increased risk of complications, primarily due to the patient's obesity and existing comorbidities.
In order to keep the risk as low as possible, extensive screening is carried out prior to the procedure.
Specialized clinics have a mortality rate of less than 0.1 percent. As with any surgical procedure, wound healing disorders and infections can occur after the operation.
Foci of inflammation can develop, particularly in the area where the material was inserted, making it necessary to remove the gastric band.
As with any operation in the abdominal cavity, adhesions can form from the scar tissue.
Gastric band-specific complications also include
If any of these complications occur, further surgery is usually necessary.
Successful weight loss with the gastric band requires the cooperation and motivation of the person concerned. Without a long-term change in diet, weight loss cannot be achieved even with gastric banding.
Among other things, you should avoid large quantities of
among other things. These can pass through the created constriction without triggering a feeling of fullness.
In many cases, eating behavior is not "normal" even after an operation, as old eating rituals are sometimes replaced by new ones. These can have a positive effect on weight loss, but can also be harmful.
Especially in cases where, due to
eating behavior is disturbed, long-term support from qualified nutritionists and therapists or rehabilitation measures can be useful.
A lack of physical activity often plays a significant role in the development of obesity. This is why sports programs are usually linked to these measures.
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