The Adjustable Gastric Band is a silicone device placed laparoscopically around the upper part of the stomach. This creates a small pouch that restricts the passage of food to the rest of the stomach, producing an early feeling of fullness and helping reduce food intake.
This method became highly popular during the 2000s as it was considered the simplest and least invasive laparoscopic bariatric procedure, with an expected excess weight loss of around 40%. In practice, however, it was found to require frequent hospital visits for band adjustments, which often affected patients’ quality of life.
Over time, many patients experienced recurrent vomiting and significant complications such as band slippage and gastric erosion, leading to a high rate of reoperations. According to multiple studies, more than 50% of patients eventually required band removal within ten years after its placement.
These outcomes, combined with the clear superiority of other bariatric procedures—such as sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass—in terms of both weight loss and quality of life, led to a sharp decline in the use of the gastric band. Today, it represents less than 1% of bariatric surgeries performed worldwide.
However, since many patients still have a gastric band in place, revisional surgery remains common—either due to unwanted symptoms or due to insufficient weight loss or weight regain.
In such cases, a multidisciplinary approach is essential to ensure that the most appropriate therapeutic option is chosen for the best possible outcome.
Average operating time: 40–60 minutes
Average hospital stay: 1 day
Average recovery time: 2 weeks
