Both operations serve only to restrict food intake. They do not interfere with the normal digestive process. In the future, it may be possible to perform gastric banding with smaller incisions through a laparoscope, a flexible fiberoptic tube and light source through which some surgical instruments may be passed. Laparoscopic gastric banding has not yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Both a band and staples are used to create a small stomach pouch.
Restrictive operations lead to weight loss in almost all patients.
However, weight regain does occur in some patients. About 30 percent of persons undergoing vertical banded gastroplasty achieve normal weight, and about 80 percent achieve some degree of weight loss. However, some patients are unable to adjust their eating habits and fail to lose the desired weight. In all weight-loss operations, successful results depend on your motivation and behaviors. A common risk of restrictive operations is vomiting caused by the small stomach being overly stretched by food particles that have not been chewed well.