The
gastric banding procedure is the only adjustable weight-loss surgery available in the United States, making it customizable for each individual.
Approximately four to six weeks after your surgery, you may undergo your first band adjustment. The adjustments are done without surgery and take about 10 minutes. As you lose weight, additional adjustments may be performed as needed.
Schedule a Gastric Band Adjustment
You'll need to keep a three-day log of your food and exercise regimen prior to your adjustment.
To schedule an adjustment with your care team at UC San Diego Health's
Bariatric and Metabolic Institute, please call
858-657-8857.
How Gastric Band Adjustments Are Made
When the band is initially placed around the stomach, it's attached to tubing which connects to an access port fixed beneath the skin of the abdomen. The port cannot be seen and can only be felt when pushing on the abdomen. Through the port and the tubing, the inner surface of the band can be inflated or deflated by a medical professional using saline solution injected directly into the port.
The adjustment process allows individual needs to be addressed. For example, a pregnant woman can have her band adjusted to accommodate a growing fetus, while patients who are not experiencing significant weight loss can have their bands tightened.
If the band is too loose, adding more saline can reduce the size of the opening to the lower region of the stomach. If the band is too tight, removing some saline will loosen the band and reduce the amount of restriction.
If you have any questions about your gastric band adjustment, please contact us at
858-657-8857.