Gastric banding surgery involves the placement of a band around the stomach. In this procedure, a tiny portion of the stomach is placed on top of the band, while the rest of the stomach is placed on the bottom. This constricts the pylorus, causing food to enter the stomach slowly and the applicant to feel full faster than before. Eating less eventually leads to weight loss in the patient.
The Benefits of Gastric Banding
People can reduce significant weight with weight loss surgery such as gastric banding, which adds further benefits to the patient's general health. Some obesity-related disorders, such as type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension, can be healed by losing weight with gastric banding surgery, to the point that medications are no longer required to control them.
One of the most important advantages of gastric banding surgery is that the gastric band is not permanently implanted in the belly, and the patient can remove the gastric band at any moment with a reasonably straightforward surgery. Furthermore, gastric banding surgery is less risky than other weight-loss procedures, and the patient heals faster. Another advantage of gastric banding surgery is the ability to loosen or tighten the gastric band by injecting or withdrawing a tiny amount of saline.
The stomach can hold less food after gastric banding surgery. Weight loss ranges from 40% to 50%. This operation does not include a stomach incision or bowel diversion. Compared to other techniques of weight loss, this procedure has a reduced rate of complications and premature mortality. Gastric banding surgery has a reduced risk of vitamin and mineral deficit than other weight loss treatments.
The Downsides of Gastric Banding
One disadvantage of gastric banding surgery is that it results in slower weight loss than other procedures, and as a result, overweight-related disorders like diabetes and hypertension will almost likely improve slowly.
Some dangers are specific to this procedure. For example, the gastric band may leak or slip, causing stomach pain, and a patient will require reoperation.
Gastric banding surgery lowers vitamin and mineral absorption. As a result, the patient may suffer from malnutrition following surgery. Sometimes there are no symptoms of malnutrition; however, in severe situations, the patient may exhibit symptoms such as persistent exhaustion, shortness of breath, palpitations, paleness, and weakness.
Another disadvantage of gastric banding surgery is that it restricts the patient's ability to eat particular foods and snacks. Following gastric banding surgery, the patient's lifestyle should be completely changed, and they should avoid eating particular foods such as sugary foods, red meat, high-fat foods, high-fiber foods, and milk.
Excessive fat consumption after gastric banding surgery can result in gastric reflux. Reflux is a problem that occurs when stomach acid flows back into the esophagus via the lower esophageal sphincter, causing a burning and painful throat. The stomach can only hold a small amount of food after bandaging surgery, and consuming too much will cause difficulties.
As a result, patients are recommended to consume three to six light meals each day, eat slowly, and thoroughly chew their pieces. Overeating following gastric banding surgery can result in vomiting and gastric emptying, gastric hypertrophy, weight increase, and even stomach rupture.
Weight loss is slower with this procedure compared with other slimming strategies. Even if the surgery is successful, the following typical issues may arise:
- Gallstones, which frequently lead to gallbladder removal;
- Drooping of the abdominal skin, which in extreme cases requires subsequent surgery and the removal of the bandage placed in the stomach.
Gastric Banding Surgery Risks and Complications
Short-term complications
- Surgery-related infection;
- Excessive bruising;
- Respiratory issues.
Long-term complications
- Vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea;
- Hernia abdominals;
- Malnutrition.
There may possibly be some serious consequences following gastric banding surgery, most of which are uncommon and affect just approximately 3% of individuals. Some of them can be fatal, such as blood clots in the lungs (pulmonary embolism), leakage in the intestines, bleeding at the surgical site, and heart attack, which is more common in patients over 60 years old. However, the risk of all these complications can be reduced by performing surgery in advanced centers with experienced surgeons.
