For morbidly obese people who have been unable to lose weight through traditional means, stomach banding provides a valuable weight loss tool. This type of bariatric surgery can help patients lose up to 90 percent of their excess body weight. It also improves the health of people who are suffering from diabetes, hypertension, or other obesity-related medical conditions. Stomach banding aids weight loss by restricting the amount of food the stomach can hold and increasing the length of time it takes the stomach to empty. An inflatable silicone band is placed around the upper part of the stomach and adjusted to fit the patient's individual weight loss needs. There is no cutting and stapling of the stomach during the stomach banding procedure and no gastrointestinal re-routing is required.
When compared to gastric bypass, stomach banding offers many advantages. Stomach banding is less invasive than gastric bypass surgery. When the procedure is performed laparoscopically, stomach banding requires a hospital stay of less than 24 hours. Recovery times for the stomach banding procedure are also quicker than that of gastric bypass; most patients can return to work within one week and perform regular physical activity approximately six weeks after stomach banding.
After your stomach banding surgery, you must pay careful attention to your diet. Choosing nutritious foods that are high in protein and vitamins is very important since you can only consume a small amount of food in one sitting. You must take care to avoid drinking regular soft drinks, milkshakes, and other high-calorie liquids, since these empty calories can interfere with your weight loss efforts. It is also recommended that you drink at least six to eight glasses of water per day to avoid constipation.
