How it works

A gastric band is a hollow silicone ring placed around the stomach to create a small pouch about the size of a golf ball. You feel full after eating only a very small portion of food as your brain is ‘tricked’ into believing that the whole stomach is full. Your food, and so calorie intake, may be 50-60% less than before your surgery.

The band is attached to an access port beneath your skin in the abdominal wall. It is fully adjustable and is adjusted by a doctor injecting saline into the band. As you lose weight, you will need a number of adjustments to maintain a level of restriction that controls your hunger.  

On average patients lose 50-60% of their excess weight over 2 years, although most weight is lost in the first 12 months.

The procedure

The gastric band is implanted during a 45 minute procedure and usually involves a one night stay in hospital. Most patients are back at work within one week. It is a laparoscopic (keyhole) procedure so scarring is minimal. In fact most of our gastric bands are implanted by single incision, leaving only one small scar. Professor Franco Favretti implants gastric bands by single incision through the navel laving no visible scars.

It is a very low risk procedure and is fully reversible – the safest form of weight loss surgery.

Aftercare

The most important factor in achieving long term success with your gastric band is the quality of aftercare that you receive. 

Request a personalised quotation

Your 2 year aftercare package includes:

• Unlimited gastric band adjustments
• Care from a team of specialist bariatric nurses
• Support from a nutritionist and health educator to help you adapt your lifestyle and get the best results
• Online support forum
• 24 hour emergency helpline 

Watch our video on how a gastric band works by Dr Ashton