- Gastric band price to lose weight
- How gastric band surgery is performed
- Benefits of gastric band to lose weight
- Find out what recovery is like from surgery at: How is recovery from bariatric surgery
The adjustable gastric band is a type of bariatric surgery where a brace is placed that tightens the stomach, causing it to decrease in size and helping the person to eat less and lose up to 40% of excess weight. This surgery is quick, the hospital stay is short and the recovery is less painful than the other bariatric weight loss surgeries.
Generally, this surgery is indicated for individuals with a BMI greater than 40 or people with a BMI greater than 35 and with an associated disease, such as hypertension or type 2 diabetes, for example.
Gastric band price to lose weight
The value of surgery for placement of an adjustable gastric band can vary between 17, 000 and 30, 000 reais, and can be done at the hospital or in private clinics.
In addition, some insurance companies may insure part or all of the surgery, depending on the case. However, it is a lengthy process, since the individual needs to do several tests and is only done in individuals with morbid obesity with chronic complications and who are unable to lose weight with other measures.
How gastric band surgery is performed
The adjustable gastric band for weight loss is a surgery done under general anesthesia and that lasts, on average, 35 minutes to 1 hour and the person can stay in the hospital from 1 day to 3 days.
The placement of the adjustable gastric band for weight loss is done by laparoscopy, which is a procedure that requires that a few holes be made in the patient's abdominal region and where the material that will help the doctor to perform the surgery passes.
This stomach surgery consists of:
- Placing a silicone band, shaped like a ring, around the upper part of the stomach and dividing it into two parts with different sizes, the stomach being shaped like an hourglass. Although the two parts of the stomach communicate with each other, the channel connecting the two parts is very small; Connection of the brace to a device, by a silicone tube, which is implemented under the skin and allows the adjustment of the gastric band at any time.
The surgeon monitors each step of the surgery on a computer screen, as a microcamera is introduced into the stomach, and the surgery is performed by laparoscopy.
Benefits of gastric band to lose weight
The placement of a gastric band has several benefits for patients, such as:
- Help to lose up to 40% of the initial weight, being generally the type of bariatric surgery that loses more weight. For example, a person who is weighing 150 kg can lose up to 60 kg; Possibility to control the amount of food eaten, because the band can be inflated or deflated at any time without the need for new operations; Rapid recovery, as it is a less invasive surgery, since there are no cuts in the stomach, being less painful compared to other surgeries; There is no vitamin deficit, unlike what can happen in other surgery, such as gastric bypass, for example.
In relation to other surgeries to lose weight, the gastric band has several advantages, however, it is important that the patient, after surgery, adopt a healthy lifestyle, eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly.
Find out what recovery is like from surgery at: How is recovery from bariatric surgery
