Gastric Banding

Gastric banding is part of the suite of surgical weight loss options offered at Adventist Health Glendale. With no cutting or stapling of the stomach, gastric banding is up to 10 times safer than more extensive weight-loss surgeries.

As effective as these procedures are, gastric banding is minimally invasive, offering fewer risks and a generally faster recovery time so you can be back to your normal activities in about seven days.

The procedure

In most cases, the gastric band is put into place during a laparoscopic procedure, using general anesthesia. The procedure is performed through a few tiny incisions (usually 0.5–1.5 centimeters). Often done on an outpatient basis, the surgery usually takes about an hour.

Gastric banding is performed in three steps:

• Step 1: Your surgeon implants the band around the upper part of your stomach, much like a belt.
• Step 2: A tube is connected from the band to a small access port, fixed beneath the skin of your abdomen.
• Step 3: After the first four to six weeks, adjustments are made by adding or removing saline solution through the access port. This is done as needed — more frequently in the first year — to maintain optimal weight loss.

To learn more, call (818) 863-4225.