Say goodbye to obesity with Gastric Banding

Obesity is one of the most common health disorder of modern times. Unhealthy eating habits and lack of physical exercise have together made this problem pervade every age-group including men, women and even children. Excess body weight is a problem because it is directly related to many other deadly health disorders like diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, depression etc. Thus the weight needs to be brought under control either through conservative methods like healthy dieting and lot of physical exercise or through surgical means if former fail to yield desired results.

If you are one of those who have tried all traditional means to shed extra pounds but in vain, weight loss surgery is the right option for you. Research has proved that weight loss surgery significantly reduces the mortality rate and also improves patient’s other medical conditions. There are several types of weight-loss surgeries differentiated on the basis of two mechanisms of restriction and malabsorption. Doctors usually combine one or both of these mechanisms in a variable manner to achieve desired results.

Doctors often use the body mass index (BMI) to determine if one can undergo bariatric surgery. There are two scenarios in this case- either you have a BMI > 40, or your BMI is 35 but you have serious health issues that might improve with weight loss.

Different types of bariatric surgeries include:

1. Gastric Banding
2. Gastric Bypass
3. Gastric Sleeve Surgery 
4. Vertical Banded Gastroplasty (VBG)

Gastric Banding

Amongst all these surgeries, Gastric banding is one of the most preferred and successful weight-loss surgeries giving desired results to patients over the years. In this surgery, laparoscopic technique is used to put an adjustable silicone band around the upper part of the stomach. Pressed by the band, the stomach becomes a small pouch with only about an inch-wide outlet. Banding significantly reduces the stomach’s capacity.

The silicone rubber ring is accompanied by a small tube that includes a port, positioned just below the skin that can be used to fill the ring with saline to make it tighter. Thus the band can be tightened or loosened as needed for desired weight loss.

Things to keep in mind before surgery

Before you decide to undergo any kind of bariatric surgery, it’s advisable to discuss all options with doctors and be informed about the risks and benefits of the procedure at hand. This will help you in a post-recovery period.

Weight-loss surgery means making a lifelong commitment to dietary and lifestyle changes that will give you long-lasting results. You will also need to follow a pre-surgery diet to prepare your body for surgery. Practice slow chewing and eating. Smoking is prohibited for at least 30 days before and after surgery as it can increase the risk of complications and infection.

The Gastric banding surgery takes only about an hour and is done under general anaesthesia. Patients are usually discharged the same day but some might be kept under observation overnight too. In any case, one can resume work a few days later.

Always listen to your band and see how you feel while eating different foods at different times. Talk to your surgeon about any problems you experience and he/she shall advise you on how to tweak your diet and eating habits.

Positives of Gastric Banding

• Gastric banding helps to shed up to 45% of excess weight. These results, however, vary individually.
• It is the safe and minimally invasive weight loss surgery that helps you recover faster post-surgery. The procedure can also be reversed if need be, and over time, the stomach returns to its normal size.
• The weight loss surgery will also lead to improvements in other conditions related to obesity, including high cholesterol, diabetes, sleep apnoea, hypertension and asthma.
• Importantly, a gastric band doesn’t interfere with absorption, so there are lesser chances of developing vitamin deficiencies.
• Besides, there is also a lower risk of dumping syndrome which occurs when undigested stomach contents are ‘dumped’ into the small intestine too fast that leads to abdominal cramps and nausea.

Another positive of this surgery is its affordability factor. Gastric Banding cost in India is up to 70 per cent less than what it costs in countries like US or UK. This despite the fact that quality of Indian medical care is at par if not better than these countries. Plus there is always a trust factor when you seek healthcare in India. Gastric bands are required to be adjusted an average of 4-6 times in the first year after surgery. This is done to ensure that the band is neither too tight nor too loose and continued weight loss can happened unhindered.

Side Effects

As we said above, gastric banding is one of the safest weight-loss surgery and people tend to have fewer problems after this surgery. However, few patients can experience nausea and vomiting but they can be easily reduced by adjusting the tightness of the band. In very rare cases, there could be wound infections or minor bleeding.

MedMonks – Your trusted health partner

If you have chosen India as your medical destination, contact Medmonks to plan your Journey. Our dedicated team will help you find highly qualified and experienced weight-loss surgeons who have undergone intensive training in their speciality. Besides, we also help with other non-medical aspects like visa assistance, accommodation and travelling. At MedMonks, we ensure that you only focus on getting the best possible treatment and you leave to rest on us.