New Jersey's Leader in Gastric Band Surgery

Why Choose Us

Led by our experienced team of bariatric surgeons, the gastric banding surgery program at RWJBarnabas Health provides a coordinated and supportive approach to your decision to pursue weight loss surgery. Our centers throughout New Jersey offer a comprehensive approach to gastric band surgery and incorporate a number of different specialties all working together to develop a personalized care plan for you. This care plan includes extensive education and evaluation before surgery, and the lifetime follow-up care and support crucial to keeping the weight off and staying healthy.

What is Gastric Band?

Gastric banding surgery is a bariatric procedure that is often performed using several small incisions (laparoscopically). Gastric band surgery works by reducing the size of the stomach, making you feel full from less food. Gastric band surgery is less complex than other bariatric surgery options and is also reversible.

During gastric band surgery, the surgeon inserts an adjustable silicone band around the upper portion of the stomach, dividing the stomach into two portions: one small and one larger. This reduces your stomach’s capacity and limits the amount of food you can eat at once. Since you feel full faster, and feel full longer, you eat less. An injection port is also implanted in the abdomen, which allows for adjustments to be made to the band after the operation.

About Gastric Banding

There are several different options for weight loss surgery. It is important that you gather all of the information you need and talk with your doctor about what type of weight loss surgery is right for you. Gastric banding does not interfere with the digestive process. Most times this procedure is done laparoscopically. Several adjustments are usually necessary after the surgery and can be done quickly in your doctors’ office.

Gastric banding surgery has several advantages:

• Patients lose about 40 percent of their body weight
• Faster recovery times
• The rate of complications is low
• Is reversible and adjustable
• Your doctor is not removing any of your natural anatomy
• Has the lowest risk of vitamin and mineral deficiencies
• As with any surgery, there are also risks associated with the gastric banding procedure, they include:
• Slower weight loss compared to other procedures
• Leaks in the band or erosion of the band
• Movement of the band
• Port-site infection
• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Post-operative nutritional follow up is absolutely critical for all patients undergoing gastric banding surgery. It is also important that patients who have had a gastric band procedure make a lifelong commitment healthy eating. This includes strict adherence to the post-operative diet, and taking vitamins and mineral supplements.

If you are interested in learning more about RWJBarnabas Health weight loss options, please contact us at (888) 724-7123.

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