The adjustable gastric band is a type of bariatric surgery where a bandage is placed that tightens the stomach, causing it to decrease in size and contributing to the person eating less and losing up to 40% of excess weight. This surgery is quick, hospitalization time is shortened and recovery is less painful than other bariatric surgeries for weight loss.
Generally, this surgery is indicated for individuals with a BMI greater than 40 or people with a BMI greater than 35 and with an associated disease, such as hypertension or type 2 diabetes, for example.
Price of the gastric band to lose weight
The value of surgery for the placement of adjustable gastric banding can vary between 17, 000 and 30, 000 reais, and can be done in the hospital or in private clinics.
In addition, some insurance companies can insure some or all of the surgery, depending on the case. However, it is a time consuming process, since it is necessary for the individual to make several examinations and it is only done in individuals with morbid obesity with chronic complications and who can not lose weight with other measures.
How is gastric banding surgery done?
The adjustable gastric band for weight loss is a general anesthesia surgery that lasts on average 35 minutes to 1 hour and the person can stay in the hospital for 1 day to 3 days.
Placing the adjustable gastric band for weight loss is done by laparoscopy, which is a procedure that requires that some holes be made in the abdominal region of the patient and where the material that will help the doctor to perform the surgery passes.
This surgery to the stomach, consists of:
- Placing a ring-shaped silicone band around the upper part of the stomach and dividing it into two parts with different sizes, leaving the stomach shaped like an hourglass. Although the two parts of the stomach communicate with each other, the channel connecting the two parts is very small;
- Connection of the strap to a device, through a silicone tube, which is implemented under the skin and allows adjustment of the gastric band at any time.
The surgeon accompanies each step of the surgery by a computer screen, as a microcamera is inserted into the stomach, and the surgery is performed by videolaparoscopy.
Benefits of the gastric band to lose weight
Placement of a gastric band has several benefits for patients, such as:
- Helping to lose up to 40% of the initial weight, being generally the type of bariatric surgery that is lost more weight. For example, a person weighing 150 kg may lose up to 60 kg;
- Possibility to control the amount of food ingested, because the strip can be inflated or deflated at any time without the need for new operations;
- Rapid recovery, since it is a minimally invasive surgery, since there are no cuts in the stomach, being less painful in relation to other surgeries;
- Vitamin deficiency does not occur, contrary to what may occur in other surgery, such as gastric bypass, for example.
In relation to other surgeries to lose weight, the gastric band has several advantages, however, it is important that the patient, after surgery, adopt a healthy lifestyle, eating a healthy diet and exercise regularly.
