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HOW DOES IT WORK?
The gastric banding procedure works by implanting a band around the uppermost part of the stomach. This gastric band molds the stomach into two connected chambers, a small upper stomach and a lower stomach, to restrict food intake. To regulate food restriction, an access port is implanted below the skin to increase or decrease the tightness of the band.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
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The normal digestive process and nutrient absorption remain unchanged.
- You will feel full sooner and stay full longer.
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The device can be removed; however, reversal surgery is not simple.
WHAT ARE THE RISK AND DISADVANTAGES?
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Nausea, vomiting, and regurgitation may occur as your body becomes accustomed to the gastric band.
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Access port complications may occur.
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Food may become lodged between the two stomach chambers. Following proper eating guidelines can minimize the occurrence of this complication.
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The band my slip or erode into the stomach wall. These complications may require corrective surgery.
IMPORTANT STATISTICS
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Excess weight loss ranges from 28% to 87% after two years.
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Type 2 diabetes: resolved or improved in up to 80.8% of patients.
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Hypertension: resolved or improved in 70.8% of patients.
OPEN APPROACH
 With an open procedure, one long incision opens the abdomen to provide access. Because of the incision, the patient's stay in the hospital will be several days longer than with minimally invasive surgery. The recovery time is also much longer.
In some cases, the open method is necessary due to some patient-specific risks. Not all patients are candidates for the laparoscopic approach, just as all bariatric surgeons are not trained to perform this less-invasive method.
LAPAROSCOPIC APPROACH
With a laparoscopic operation, a small video camera is inserted into the abdomen to conduct and view the surgery on a video monitor. The camera and surgical instruments are inserted through small incisions made in the
abdominal wall.
 Laparoscopic procedures for bariatric surgery employ the same principles as their "open" counterparts and produce similar excess weight loss. Compared to open surgery, some benefits of laparoscopic surgery include:
- Less postoperative pain
- Fewer wound infections
- Fewer incisional hernias
- Faster recovery and return to presurgical level of activity
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