What is a Banded Gastric Bypass?

Gastric bypass surgery and band-related surgeries are different in technique. Patients who have gastric bypass surgery have a portion of the stomach stapled closed so that the area where food enters is much smaller. Banded gastric bypass surgeries are similar, but they are not considered to be true bypass surgeries. Rather than rerouting part of the stomach, a small band is placed around the stomach so that a smaller reservoir is created for food storage. With the band in place, food very slowly empties into the lower part of the stomach beneath the band, keeping patients full longer.

The main difference between gastric bypass and banded gastric bypass surgeries is that band surgeries do not require the stomach to be re-routed or cut. They are also easier to reverse, and thus, they are slightly less effective. The stomach is easier to stretch back to its normal shape and size in a banded gastric bypass surgery than with more conventional surgeries. This means that a healthy diet plan and regular exercise, as well as carefully controlled food portions, are even more important for those who undergo a banded gastric bypass.

In many cases, a banded gastric bypass can be done through a laparoscopic procedure. This is where doctors cut small incisions into the stomach and use very small instruments and ultrasound technology to perform the surgery rather than through a large abdominal incision. This has made doing bariatric surgeries safer for patients with certain health problems, and the recovery times are often much shorter than with conventional surgeries.

Patients who undergo any type of bypass surgery are required to meet certain body mass index requirements. This means that patients have to be a certain size, weight, and height before they are able to undergo an operation for the purpose of weight loss. Those with lower weights may still have surgery if they have certain health complications related to weight. Potential complications for obesity include diabetes, heart disease, and fatty organs.

After banded gastric bypass surgery, patients are generally required to stick with a strict eating and exercise plan. They work alongside their doctors and dietitians who are trained in helping the morbidly obese. This is a person who develops eating plans for healthy living, advises on food choices and portion sizes, and keeps patients motivated by tailoring recipes to fit their individual needs.