Gastric band adjustments

Gastric band surgery could be an option for you if you have struggled to lose and maintain weight loss through diet and exercise alone. During the procedure, a silicone band is placed around the very top of the stomach, triggering nerve endings that reduce appetite so that you feel satisfied with smaller portions. 

We know that every patient in our care has different aspirations and needs and so, after gastric band surgery, your band will need adjusting to achieve the level of control that is just right for you. The first gastric band adjustment is usually made five weeks after the original surgery. The adjustment will involve either adding or removing saline fluid from the band in a short, nurse or dietitian-led procedure. No downtime is required after a band adjustment. 

Further band adjustments may be made after this, depending on the stage you are at in your weight loss journey. However, typically around three to five further adjustments are necessary over the first six to twelve months to achieve an optimum level of control and ensure that the band is working to the best of its ability. To determine whether you need a gastric band adjustment, get in touch with our weight loss support team today. 

Gastric band adjustments are simple procedures which are carried out by our fully qualified nurses and expert specialist dietitians. 

Your first gastric band fill will take place around five weeks after weight loss surgery, and is usually followed by several more adjustments over the course of the first year until an optimum level of pressure is achieved. Following this, occasional adjustments may still be required as you continue to lose weight. 

To adjust it, a nurse or dietitian locates the port of the gastric band by feeling through the skin and will then clean the area. A needle is inserted through the skin and into the port, and saline is either added or removed to increase or decrease the level of pressure created by the gastric band. 

Gastric band fills are minimally invasive, lasting about 15 minutes, and you should be able to resume your day-to-day life immediately afterwards. If your rate of weight loss is still not optimal following an adjustment, the procedure can be carried out again a few weeks later. 

After each adjustment, it is usually required to return to a fluid diet for 1-2 days followed by a soft diet for 1-2 days before progressing back onto solid food.