Laparoscopic Gastric Band or Lap Band, unlike Gastric Sleeve, is a least invasive surgery for weight loss and obesity patient.

The procedure involves placing a soft silicone ring with an expandable balloon in the center around the top part of the stomach. It creates two compartments of the stomach, with a much smaller top part above the band. A person consumes less food only to fill the top part of the stomach. Over time, after the meal, the food passes through the opening of the band into the rest of the stomach. It makes digestion occur normally. This procedure is adjustable and even reversible.

Who need Gastric Band Surgery

Weight loss surgery is an option for obese patients who are unable to lose weight through diet and exercise.

Doctors often use the following body mass index (BMI) measures to identify people who can have benefit from weight-loss surgery. A healthy BMI is between 18.5 and 25. This procedure is for those who have:

• A BMI of 40 or more. It means a man is 45 kg overweight or a woman is 36 kg over their ideal weight.
• A BMI of 35 or more and a serious medical condition that could improve with weight loss. Some of these conditions are sleep apnea, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

Gastric Band Procedure

The procedure starts with making a small incision (typically less than 1.25 cm or 0.5 in.) near the belly button. To create a work space, the surgeon will introduce carbon dioxide (a gas that occurs naturally in the body)  into the abdomen. Then, a small laparoscopic camera is inserted through the cut into the abdomen. The camera sends the internal pictures of the stomach and abdominal cavity to a video monitor. The surgeon takes a good look in the abdominal cavity through the pictures. A few more small incisions are made in the abdomen. The surgeon uses instruments with long handles to complete the surgery. The surgeon makes a small, circular tunnel just behind the stomach, inserts the gastric band through the tunnel, and locks the band around the stomach.

The band makes a small pouch at the top of the stomach. It holds about ½ cup of food in comparison to the normal  stomach that holds about 6 cups of food. The pouch being smaller fills with food quickly, and the band slows the passage of food from the pouch to the lower part of the stomach. When the upper part of the stomach is full, it sends signal to the brain that the stomach is full. It makes you feel less hungry. You would eat small portions and remain full for a long time. This would lead to gradual weight loss.

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Over the time, the bands need adjustment as the patients lose weight. The silicone band has a tube that is filled with sterile water to make it loose or tight to  improve weight loss and reduce side effects. It rests just below the skin.

If the band is very tight, food may not pass and you may experience vomiting. On the other hand, loose band won’t lead to any restriction, hence no weight loss. The aim of band adjustment is to have the band at the right level of tightness so that regurgitation is minimized but portion control is achieved.

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• Limits the amount of food that is eaten at a meal with a feeling of fullness and a reduction in hunger
• The surgery is reversible
• No part of the stomach is stapled, cut or removed – your normal anatomy has not been altered and the food is absorbed by your body exactly as it was before surgery
• Generally, it only involves an overnight stay and rapid recovery
• Good weight loss (about 50% of excess weight)
• Extremely low risk of operative complications

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Gastric Band Surgery Cost

India is the topmost destination for patients who seek low cost obesity surgery. The cost usually varies on the basis of treatment chosen and the medical conditions of the patient. The prices underneath are given in USD.

USA              $14,500
UK                $11,500
India          $4,500
Thailand     $11,500
Singapore   $9,200
Mexico        $6,500
Malaysia     $8,150

Gastric Band in India is the best option to a medical tourist from abroad.The hospitals for gastric band in India offer attractive packages to medical tourists, which enables them to save thousands of dollars. These packages include gastric sleeve cost, and all the costs that a foreign medical traveler would otherwise incur including boarding, hotel booking, traveling accommodation and food costs.

Dietetic requirements of Gastric Banding

• The success of Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding depends on consistency in eating good, healthy nutritious solid food. To make it effective, you must eat slowly and chew very well and control the amount food intake.
• Your surgeon will recommend you to have a very low-calorie diet (VLCD) e.g. Optifast for 10-14 days prior to surgery
• We recommend nutritional supplementation of vitamins and minerals such as Iron, Folate, Calcium and Vitamin D with a daily multivitamin to prevent deficiencies
• The surgeon conducts at least 6-12 monthly review of nutritional adequacy (including annual blood tests) to make sure you are in good health
• Only low-calorie drinks should be consumed even though there is no restriction on drinks with the band. The band doesn’t stop high-calorie foods such as chocolate and ice cream.

Diet after surgery 

• For the first few days, you can have only water and fluids, such as thin soups.
• After a month, liquids and blended foods, such as yogurt and puréed vegetables can be eaten.
• Patients must introduce soft foods from 4 to 6 weeks.
• After 6 weeks, the person can resume a normal diet.

Gastric Balloon, Gastric Bypass,and Duodenal Switch are other weight loss options.