Fast Facts – Gastric Banding

Laparoscopic gastric banding surgery is the most widely used weight loss surgery in Australia.¹
The surgery is performed through small incisions and with long-shafted instruments. There are no major cuts to the abdomen.¹
The gastric band, like a belt, is fastened around the top of the stomach.¹
The stomach and intestines are not cut or re-routed.¹
The band is adjustable and reversible.
The band presses on the stomach creating sensations of fullness.¹
The band can be adjusted to increase or decrease hunger sensations.¹
Only small amounts of food can be eaten at once because of the tiny pouch above the band.
Patients can lose up to an average of 27kg of their excess weight in 12 months.²
Gastric banding can be significantly more effective than non-surgical treatments.³
Patients have shown maintenance of their weight loss 3-8 years after their surgery.⁴
Effective weight loss can lead to either complete control or improvement in obesity related diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and obstructive sleep apnoea.⁵
Most patients stay in hospital for only one day.⁶

O’Brien P. The LAP-BAND solution - a partnership for weight loss. 2007.
O’Brien P. The LAP-BAND™ AP System: the platform advances. Bariatric Times, June 2007: 24-27.
O’Brien PE et al. Treatment of mild to moderate obesity with laparoscopic adjustable banding or an intensive medical program: a randomized trial. Annals Intern Med 2006, May 2; 144(9): 625-33.
O'Brien P. et al. Systematic Review of Medium-Term Weight Loss after Bariatric Operations. Obesity Surgery; 16:1032-1040.
O'Brien PE et al Obesity, weight loss and bariatric surgery MJA 2005; 183:310-314.
Keating C. et al. Cost efficacy of surgically induced weight loss for the management of type 2 diabetes randomised controlled trial. Diabetes Care 2009.

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