Gastric banding is a type of weight loss surgery that involves placing a silicone band around the upper part of the stomach to decrease stomach size and reduce food intake. It is approved for use as a weight loss treatment by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The surgeon places the band around the upper portion of the stomach and attaches a tube to the band. The tube is accessible through a port under the skin of the abdomen. Using this port, the surgeon injects saline solution into the band to inflate it.
Adjustments can alter the degree of constriction around the stomach. The band creates a small stomach pouch above it, with the rest of the stomach below. Having a smaller stomach pouch reduces the amount of food that the stomach can hold at any one time. The result is an increased feeling of fullness after eating a smaller amount of food. This, in turn, reduces hunger and helps lower overall food intake.
An advantage of this form of bariatric procedure is that it allows the body digested as usual, without malabsorption.