Am I suitable for a gastric band?

In order to receive gastric band surgery, patients must be 18 years or older and without any psychological or medical conditions that could impact the success of the procedure. Medical conditions, such as heart failure or poor blood clotting, could result in a lack of qualification.

Some patients have a BMI that could be too high for the surgery to be performed safely. These patients may be asked to pursue another weight loss solution, such as dieting or a gastric balloon.

The gastric band is only available to those who have tried normal means of weight loss with little or no results. It is not an alternative to a healthy lifestyle and diet. Those considering the gastric band as an option will be evaluated to ensure that there are no other viable means of weight loss.

Patients considering gastric band surgery must be willing to make diet and weight loss a permanent part of their life. Overeating may result in deflation of the gastric band. While surgeons can refill the band, patients who consistently overeat will not be as successful as those who follow a stricter diet.

The gastric band will most likely be deflated in the case of a pregnancy. This is to ensure the safety of the mother and child. Once the mother stops breast feeding, she may have the band refilled. This will aid in losing weight gained during the pregnancy.

As with all surgeries, there are risks associated with the gastric band. Although rare, there is the chance of serious side effects caused by the procedure. Potential side effects include haemorrhaging, infections, and negative reactions to anaesthetics and medications.

Gastric side effects are also possible, including reflux and blockage of the stomach outlet. The gastric band slips out of place in about 5% of patients. This may result in severe nausea and vomiting and is usually caused by overeating. Additional risks may include blood clots in the lungs, deep vein thrombosis, and problems with the tubing of the gastric band or access port. Breakage or puncturing of the access port has occurred in some cases, although it is extremely rare.

Gastric band surgery is considered a safe and successful surgical option. Only one out of every 2,000 gastric band surgeries results in the death of a patient. While the surgery is generally extremely effective, there are cases when it fails. This is usually due to patients who fail to eat healthy foods or who repeatedly overeat and deflate the gastric band.