Category: Bariatric Surgery

Gastric Banding Options in the U.S.

We bring you the latest news and information related to bariatric weight loss surgery. Here is today's news:

by Brandon Cornett

An explanation of adjustable gastric banding in general, and a look at the two FDA-approved banding products available to patients in the United States.

Bariatric weight-loss surgery continues to grow in popularity, in the United States and elsewhere around the world. There are two major reasons for this growth — the rise of obesity and the increased variety of surgery options.

In particular, the medical use of adjustable gastric banding has evolved a lot in recent years. Today, in the United States, patients have more options for this procedure than every before. In this article, I’ll explain what gastric banding is, how it works, and what options patients have when getting this type of surgery.

The Adjustable Gastric Band

With this popular and relatively new form of weight loss surgery, a special kind of band is medically inserted around the upper part of the patient’s stomach. In most cases, the gastric band is inserted through small incisions using laparoscopic instruments. This is less invasive approach than other surgeries, such as the gastric bypass.

Once the adjustable banding is in place, it basically segments the stomach into two sections — a small upper portion, and a larger lower portion that is no longer used. This reduces the patient’s stomach capacity, and thus the capacity for food as well.

A key advantage of gastric banding over other bariatric procedures is the fact that it’s reversible. The bands cannot only be adjusted after placement, but they can be completely removed as well. Typically, patients will keep them in place permanently as part of their weight-loss and weight-management program. But they can be removed if necessary.

Two Banding Options for U.S. Patients

At the time of this article (August 2008), there are two FDA-approved gastric bands that can be used within the United States. If you are considering this approach to weight-loss surgery, you will probably have to choose between (A) the REALIZEâ„¢ Band and (B) the LAP-BAND® System. Let’s take a closer look at each one.

• The REALIZEâ„¢ Band – This is the most recent device to “hit the market.” This banding device is manufactured by Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., a medical development company under the Johnson and Johnson umbrella. The FDA approved the Realize Band for use within the United States in September of 2007. It has been used outside the U.S. for more than a decade, though under a different product name.
• The LAP-BAND® System — There’s a good chance you’ve seen commercials for this product on television. I see them all the time, in primetime and on the major networks. The Lap-Band is made by Allergan, Inc. The FDA approved it for use within the U.S. in June of 2001. It’s been around the longest, so it’s the most popular option at the time of this article.

While these adjustable gastric bands are made by different companies, they perform very similar functions. In fact, the FDA approval notes for these products are nearly identical. For both products, the FDA states that: “the band is placed around the upper part of the stomach, creating a small pouch that can hold only a small amount of food.”

Learn More Before Deciding

It’s not the point of this article to tell you which type of band to use, or even to suggest bariatric surgery is right for you. Those decisions are yours to make. The point of this article is to explain the basic process of adjustable gastric banding, and to let you know you have options. If you are considering one of these procedures, or some other form of weight loss surgery, you owe it to yourself to do plenty of research and ask plenty of questions. Good luck, and good health!