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Band Adjustments
Once placed around the stomach, tubing connects the gastric band to an access port fixed beneath the skin of your abdomen. This allows for change in the stomach outlet by adding or subtracting salt water in the band balloon through the access port. With the EASYBAND in our GOAL trial this is accomplished with a micro motor inside the band. This adjustment process helps determine your rate of weight loss. If the band is too loose and weight loss is inadequate, tightening the band will reduce the size of the stoma. This will further restrict the amount of food that can move through it. The diameter of the band can be modified to meet your individual needs, which can change as you lose weight.When the adjustable gastric band is placed around the stomach there will be some initial swelling of the stomach wall. This makes the channel across band narrower at first. This improves over the next 3 to 4 weeks and by 6-8 weeks patients usually feel very little restriction from their band. During this period it is extremely important that patients follow the diet advancement recommended to avoid vomiting. Vomiting and retching can interfere with proper band anchoring at the upper end of the stomach and allow part of the stomach to “slip” under the band. Adjustments to the gastric band are performed by Dr. Christou in his office. The reservoir is located through simple touch and accessed with a specially designed needle so as not to damage the access port. This is a relatively painless procedure and less so with the EASYBAND trial where no needles are involved.. The first adjustment is done 6-8 weeks after the surgery. We recommend that patients keep a record of their weight on a weekly basis and also a log of foods that are difficult for them to digest. You should expect 1-2 pounds of weight loss per week. Dr. Christou uses the following chart (algorithm) for band adjustments. You can consult this chart to see if you need an adjustment and call Dr. Christou’s office to make an appointment.  The number of adjustments that may be necessary is variable from patient to patient. About 10% of patients never need an adjustment to their band and achieve their desired weight loss from the restriction provided by the gastric band. Other patients may need one to several fills. In some patients (about 5%) we make arrangements for an adjustment under X-Ray control with a radiologist present (usually Dr. L. Stein). |
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