Skip to Main Content
A male jogger takes steps to live a healthy lifestyle after undergoing weight-loss surgery.

Gastric Band Surgery

This procedure involves placing a gastric band (often referred to as lap-band) around the upper part of the stomach to divide the stomach into two sections. This produces a small upper compartment above the band and a larger compartment below the band. The smaller upper section significantly reduces the amount of food that a person can eat at one time, which generates a feeling of fullness after eating a small amount of food. The band is adjusted after surgery as part of the follow-up.

Benefits of Gastric Band Surgery

Generally, 30 percent of excess weight is expected to be lost during the two years following gastric band surgery. This is reliant upon your commitment to follow up with the surgeon and adhere to the diet and exercise guidelines provided by your medical weight loss team.

Considerations for Gastric Band Surgery

Because this procedure involves the placing of a lap-band into the body, it can create risks of rejection or infection. Other risks may include:

  • Bleeding
  • Undesired moving of the band along the stomach
  • Band leakage
  • Injury to internal organs
  • Blood clots or pulmonary embolism during the postoperative period

Some patients experience slower initial weight loss with the gastric band system than with gastric bypass. It’s important to know that regular follow-up visits are critical to achieving the best possible results.

Find a Doctor


Looking for a doctor? Perform a quick search by name or browse by specialty.

U.S. News & World Report


U.S News & World Report has recognized Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center as one of the best hospitals for several specialties.