According to the American Society for Metabolic Bariatric Surgery, bariatric surgery is not an easy option for obesity sufferers. It is a drastic step, and carries the usual pain and risks of any major gastrointestinal surgical operation.
However, gastric banding is the least invasive surgery of its kind. Gastric banding is performed using laparoscopic surgery and usually results in a shorter hospital stay, faster recovery, smaller scars, and less pain than open surgical procedures. Because no part of the stomach is stapled or removed, and the patient’s intestines are not re-routed, he or she can continue to absorb nutrients from food normally. Gastric bands are made entirely of biocompatible materials, so they are able to stay in the patient’s body without causing harm. However, not all patients are suitable for laparoscopy.
Gastric banding is indicated for people for whom all of the following apply:
- Body Mass Index above forty, or those who are one hundred pounds (seven stone/forty-five kilograms) or more over their estimated ideal weight, according to the National Institutes of Health, or those between thirty-five to forty with co-morbidities that may improve with weight loss (type two diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and obstructive sleep apnea.)
- Age between eighteen and fifty-five years (although there are doctors who will work outside these ages, some as young as twelve).
- Failure of medically supervised dietary therapy (for about six months).
- History of obesity (up to five years—depending on the Insurance pre-approval requirements).
- Comprehension of the risks and benefits of the procedure and willingness to comply with the substantial lifelong dietary restrictions required for long term success.
Gastric banding is usually not recommended for people with any of the following:
- If the surgery or treatment represents an unreasonable risk to the patient.
- Untreated endocrine diseases such as hypothyroidism.
- Inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract such as ulcers, esophagitis, or Crohn’s disease.
- Severe cardiopulmonary diseases or other conditions that may make them poor surgical candidates in general.
- An allergic reaction to materials contained in the band or who have exhibited pain intolerance to implanted devices.
- Dependency on alcohol or drugs
- People with severe learning or cognitive disabilities or emotionally unstable people
