What is involved in gastric banding?
The gastric band is placed around the upper stomach and a small tube led to a reservoir placed under the skin. The operation is performed laparoscopically (keyhole surgery) and takes only about 40 minutes. You will be allowed home at between 24 and 72 hours after surgery with a diet sheet that starts with fluids and builds up to solid food over the next 6 weeks Eight weeks postoperatively we inflate the balloon in the band using a special needle placed through the skin into the reservoir. The amount of fluid in the balloon will need to be adjusted over subsequent weeks to produce the required weight loss.
