In addition to weight loss, gastric banding can resolve or improve the following obesity-related conditions.

The REALIZE Personalized Banding Solution is designed to help you lose weight and transform your health.

In a 3-year clinical trial, 224 patients lost a mean of 40 percent of their excess weight at one year; 228 patients lost 43 percent of their excess weight loss at three years.⁷ In the same trial, patients were able to reduce their (average) BMI from 44 to 36 in the first year after surgery. Patients were able to maintain their reduced BMI through their third year. ⁷

The REALIZE Personalized Banding Solution also offers several product and surgery benefits. The REALIZE Band is most often implanted using laparoscopic surgery − a procedure that involves smaller incisions and less tissue trauma than open surgery − resulting in shorter hospital stays, faster recovery, smaller scars, and less pain than open surgical procedures. The REALIZE Band is adjustable so if the rate of weight loss is not acceptable, the band can be adjusted to make you feel full after eating less food.

These are just some of the benefits of the REALIZE Personalized Banding Solution. Check out the Benefits page for more detailed information.

There are risks associated with gastric banding surgery. You can think of risks in the following way. Some are associated with abdominal surgery, some are specific to a gastric band, and some may be unique to you. Your weight, age, and medical history play a significant role in determining your specific risks. ⁷

Risks associated with any general abdominal surgery include, but are not limited to:

• bleeding
• shoulder and back pain
• pneumonia
• complications due to anesthesia and medications
• deep vein thrombosis
• injury to the stomach, esophagus, or surrounding organs
• infection
• pulmonary embolism
• stroke or heart attack
• death

Visit the Risks and Complications page for a complete explanation of the risks and complications associated with gastric banding.

You must meet the following criteria to qualify for gastric band surgery:

• One of the following weight and health conditions must exist:
• BMI of 40 or greater
• BMI of 35 or greater with at least one obesity-related health condition (co-morbidity)
• You must be at least 18 years old
• You must have tried and failed at other methods of weight loss

Take the REALIZE Eligibility Quiz to see if you are eligible for the REALIZE Personalized Banding Solution.

First, you need to consider experience. Your surgeon should have experience performing the gastric band procedure, specifically with the REALIZE Band. You should also feel confident in your surgeon. You may want to take the opportunity to speak with the surgeon's patients. Patients willing to refer family, friends, and interested candidates are a good indication of the surgeon's quality. Another good gauge of quality is a Center of Excellence (COE) designation. COE programs and surgeons are judged by strict criteria to ensure that they provide high-quality care. Another important factor to consider is the surgeon's commitment to your success. Your surgeon should provide long-term care with follow-up appointments, information, and support resources.

Use our surgeon locator tool.

Because every insurance policy is unique, it's important that you contact your benefits administrator and/or insurance company to thoroughly understand what is and isn't covered through your plan. If you need help with understanding if your insurance plan covers band surgery, learn more about insurance assistance from REALIZE.

There are many options to consider when planning to pay for your surgery. First, you should determine if your insurance will cover the surgery. The REALIZE Personalized Banding Solution provides ways for you to understand if your insurance covers banding surgery and to finance all or part of the cost.

Because your doctor wants to make sure that your stomach completely heals from the surgery, your first band adjustment won’t usually occur until 4-6 weeks after your surgery. After that, your band will be adjusted as needed to ensure that you feel satisfied when you eat and that you are losing weight gradually, about 1-2 pounds per week. Typically, patients have several adjustments in the first 12 – 18 months after surgery.⁷

No. The band itself is a strong and flexible silicone structure. The inside of the band has a soft balloon that comes in direct contact with the outside lining of your stomach. During surgery, the surgeon will adjust the band so that it will fit snug around your stomach.⁷ There are times when people temporarily feel increased band restriction. These times may occur in the morning, during allergy season, when under extreme stress, during a menstrual cycle, or with a significant increase in altitude.⁷

The REALIZE Band is intended to be a long-term implant and has been shown to be a safe and effective tool to help people lose weight. However, on rare occasions, complications can develop. In a U.S. clinical study involving 276 REALIZE Band patients, cases of migration of the implant, which includes band erosion, band slippage, and port displacement, was reported by 5.4 percent of the patients (15 patients).⁷

The REALIZE Band is only implanted around your stomach; therefore, the band should not affect the function of your reproductive organs or fertility. After you become pregnant, the band may be loosened so that you and your baby can get enough nutrients. Consult your doctor for more information.

The REALIZE Band only comes in one size, is positioned and adjusted just for you, and is intended to be a long-term implant. Except in the event of a complication, there is no evidence that the REALIZE Band will need to be replaced.⁷

With the REALIZE Band, food digestion happens through normal digestion, and weight loss occurs at a gradual rate of 1-2 pounds per week. In a 3-year clinical trial, 224 patients lost a mean of 40% of their excess weight at one year; 228 patients lost 43% of their excess weight loss at three years.⁷ In the same trial, patients were able to reduce their (average) BMI from 44 to 36 in the first year after surgery. Patients were able to maintain their reduced BMI through their third year.⁷

With the REALIZE Band you will have to learn to eat and drink in a new way. This means smaller portions and appropriate food choices. You will need to eat approximately 4 ounces (1/2 cup) of food at each meal, and you’ll want to avoid foods that can block your stoma like bread, pineapple, celery, fibrous foods, and non-tender cuts of red meats.⁷

Support and aftercare will vary from one bariatric surgery practice to another. In general, your bariatric program will provide follow-up appointments, information, and support resources. Unique to the REALIZE Personalized Banding Solution is Realize mySuccess™, an interactive tool designed to aid your bariatric program in its efforts to provide the best long-term care possible. REALIZE mySUCCESS provides a way to manage, measure and track your recovery and success. Make sure you ask your surgeon how they will use REALIZE mySUCCESS to help you achieve your weight loss goals.

Yes, you will need to adopt an active lifestyle with the REALIZE Personalized Banding Solution in order to achieve your health and weight loss goals. Don’t worry. You don’t have to run a marathon – you just need to do 20 to 30 minutes of aerobic exercise three to four times each week.⁷