The gastric band or gastroplasty at BodyprojectTunisia
Gastroplasty, also called the gastric band, is a surgical operation which aims to fight excess weight. It consists on the placement of an adjustable gastric band by laparoscopy. Its effect is limiting the patient’s food requirements.
Action and physiology
Gastroplasty involves putting a silicone ring around the upper part of the stomach. This adjustable ring allows to separate the stomach into two parts transforming it into an hourglass: an upper part with a capacity of 3 or 4 spoons and another lower part.
The gastroplasty is a simple operation to perform and allows a slow passage of food without affecting digestion.
Benefits
- Simple to make
- The gastric band operation is reversible.
- Weight loss is 2 to 4 kg per month.
- Hospital stay is short, lasting 1 to 2 days on average.
- No scars so no cosmetic damage.
- Rare incidence of complications.
Operation and stay
Fasting for 6 hours is necessary before the operation, which will be performed under general anesthesia by laparoscopy.
The intervention lasts about an hour.
After the intervention, in order to prevent thromboembolic complications, a subcutaneous injection of low molecular weight heparin and pain killers will be administered.
Leaving the hospital is authorized at the end of the day or the next day. A radiological control few days after the intervention is performed to ensure the correct position of the ring and the correct passage of the liquid.
Post-operative recommendations
Although the procedure is simple, it is recommended to:
- Avoid snacking and sweet foods, such as sodas, ice cream, chocolate, etc.
- Avoid excessive ingestion of liquid foods that easily pass the ring.
- Avoid drinking during meals.
- Eat slowly and chew food well.
- Eat in calm.
- Get regular physical activity.
- Be followed by a multidisciplinary team.
- Respect the food intake which is divided into 3 meals and 2 snacks.
Result and follow-up
Excess Weight loss with the gastric band procedure is around 55%.
In fact, gastroplasty allows an average weight loss of 3 to 4 kg per month (between 0.5 and 1 kg per week). The patient continues to lose weight during the first two years. Afterwards, the weight usually stabilizes and sometimes there can be a slight increase in weight.
These results may vary depending on the patient
eating behavior and initial weight. It would be better then to consult a specialist who will give you the necessary information adapted to your case.
The doctors of “BodyprojectTunisia” will be delighted to answer you and support you in your decision-making. You can contact them online, before making the trip.
Possible complications
Although complications after gastric band are rare, they are still possible.
Operational complications can occur such as hemorrhage and digestive perforation.
In post-operative, there can be two types of complications:
Early post-operative complications: such as pulmonary embolism, inversion of the case or infection of the scar.
- Late post-operative complications: such as the dilation of the part of the stomach located above the ring or the migration of the ring intra-gastric which remains very rare (a risk of 2% maximum).
- These kinds of complications can be easily avoided if the patient is well supervised by a competent and experienced medical team. we offer the services of our professional and experienced team in this type of intervention to supervise and advice the patient.
You will certainly be in good hands. Do not hesitate to ask your questions to our doctors via the consultation form or directly on our posted phone numbers.
You can download the list of exams to do before the intervention by clicking here.