We are nationally recognized specialists who are pioneering how people look at weight loss surgery, offering new hope for weight loss. Our surgery teams work together with our medical weight management experts, who specialize in non-surgical therapies such as medications, diet, exercise and psychological counseling.

The adjustable gastric banding procedure involves placing a restrictive inflatable band around the uppermost part of your stomach. This divides your stomach into two portions – one smaller and one larger. Because food passes from the upper stomach pouch to the lower stomach pouch slowly, you will feel full longer after this procedure. A patient who is 100 pounds overweight may typically lose 30 to 40 pounds.

Having an adjustable gastric band requires less alteration of the digestive tract than any of the other surgical weight loss options. But you must adhere strictly to requirements about the types and quantities of food allowed to avoid reflux, vomiting or regaining of weight.

The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery has designated the University of Minnesota Medical Center a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence. We are also one of a very few select programs that have also achieved Adolescent Qualifications by the American College of Surgeons. In addition to offering an experienced, comprehensive approach to treating obesity as a disease, our surgeons participate in academic-based research and offer clinical trial opportunities that feature new approaches to weight loss.

Risks for abdominal surgery
Weight loss surgery is a major surgery with risks. These risks are the same as for any surgery on the abdomen (belly). Possible complications include:

• Breathing problems
• Pneumonia
• Infection
• Bleeding at the incision sites
• Blockage in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract
• Leaks at the site where the stomach or intestines are sewn together
• Blood clots in the logs causing leg pain
• Blood clots in the lungs that can cause chest pain or trouble breathing

Risks for the adjustable gastric banding
In addition to the general abdominal surgery risks, the adjustable gastric banding also puts patients at risk of:

• Slipped band
• Stretching of the esophagus
• Injury to organs
• Ulcers
• Tubing kinks
• Port flips over
• Leaks in band that must be replaced or removed
• Heartburn
• Regurgitation
• Night-time coughing