In 2016, Ethicon, a Johnson & Johnson company, announced that it would no longer be manufacturing and distributing its Endo-Surgery Curved Adjustable Gastric Band. The reason for this cessation in sales is the declining popularity in gastric banding surgery itself. While some patients have lost weight and have seen a significant improvement to their health, our clinic does not offer gastric bands, nor do we recommend them.

The Realities of Gastric Bands

First of all, what is a gastric band? Essentially, a gastric band procedure does not entail removing any parts of the stomach. Your surgeon simply ties the adjustable gastric band around the top part of your stomach to reduce the amount of solid food you need to eat before feeling full. It does not restrict liquid intake. While the fact that it’s not as invasive as other bariatric operations can be considered a plus, long term effectiveness is not a guarantee, and you might find your limited weight loss to be nothing short of heartbreaking.

Why Gastric Bands Are Not Recommended

Gastric Band procedures are in decline due to the continuously high rate of necessary removal, which explains Ethicon’s decision to discontinue the sale of their product. According to some statistics, only 11% of Gastric Band patients still have their original bands intact. Complications make arise, such as leaks, gastric erosions, slippage, stomach dying, obstructions, perforations, etc. At Clinique Michel Gagner, we know that bariatric surgery is an expensive choice toward a healthier lifestyle. Patients who spend thousands of dollars on a procedure, which has proven many times not to be as effective as other procedures, may never see the weight loss results they paid for. That’s why our clinic only specializes in weight loss surgeries with higher result rates.

Alternatives to Gastric Bands

If you are considering undergoing weight loss surgery, our clinic provides many alternatives that will ensure a better success rate than a gastric band and minimal recovery time. Click here to learn more about what bariatric surgeries we perform at Clinique Michel Gagner in Montreal. Here are a couple preferred bariatric procedures.

Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy: In 2000, in New York City ,Dr. Michel Gagner pioneered this ground-breaking procedure, which involves removing up to 85% of your stomach volume. This procedure has shown to reduce body weight by up to 75% in a single year.

Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: A surgery that Dr. Gagner has pioneered and perfected over decades (He first performed it in 1995 at the Cleveland Clinic), this procedure has been proven to cause a significant amount of weight loss—up to 85% in the first year.

Laparoscopic Duodenal Switch: A surgery that Dr. Gagner pioneered laparoscopically since his work at Manhattan’s Mount Sinai Hospital in 1999, it gives the best weight loss results of any procedures and resolves type-2 diabetes.

Contact Clinique Michel Gagner</a> to discuss if weight loss surgery is right for you.