Gastric band surgery is a weight-loss procedure in which an adjustable silicone band is placed around the top of the stomach to create a small pouch that holds less food. This band can then be inflated with saline or deflated to adjust the amount of food that can be ingested. This technique is less complicated than other bariatric surgery options. People who have this procedure feel full faster and longer.
The silicone band has an inner ring that works like a balloon so your doctor can control the size of the opening between the pouch and the rest of the stomach. By increasing or decreasing the size of this balloon, your doctor can adjust how quickly food travels through the stomach. This means that after surgery, your band can be adjusted to provide you with the best weight-loss results and maximum comfort.