REALIZE® Adjustable Gastric Band
REALIZE® Band is an adjustable gastric band designed to assist patients with weight loss. Originally created in Sweden, the Realize Band has had over 100,000 satisfied patients worldwide and has quickly grown in popularity in the United States as a comfortable and effective method of weight loss. More than 20 years of data confirm the successful performance of the REALIZE Band.
Candidates for REALIZE Band Surgery
To qualify for REALIZE Band surgery, patients must be morbidly obese, having a body mass index, or BMI, of at least 40. This translates to about 100 pounds overweight for men and 80 pounds for women. Exceptions may be made when patients have a somewhat lower BMI but also suffer from a serious obesity-related illness. The surgery is not normally performed on patients younger than 18 years of age or older than 65.
Benefits of REALIZE Band Surgery
Studies have shown that patients lose an average of 40 percent of excess body fat in the first year after REALIZE Band surgery. The REALIZE Band can also improve many obesity-related health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, and acid reflux.
Compared with other weight loss surgeries, REALIZE Band surgery has many advantages.
Minimally Invasive
The procedure involves less tissue trauma than open surgery. The patient experiences less pain and recovers more quickly.
Comfort
The REALIZE Band is adjustable. It can be tightened or loosened depending on patient comfort and needs.
Safety
The REALIZE Band is the widest gastric band available, designed to prevent slippage and leakage. This is an important benefit since either slippage or leakage may require further surgery. In addition, because the REALIZE Band procedure does not involve intestinal bypass, it does not depend on malabsorption of calories for weight loss success and therefore carries far less danger of malnutrition than some bariatric procedures.
Reversible
REALIZE Band surgery does not permanently change the anatomy of the stomach and intestines. If necessary, the REALIZE band can be removed.
The REALIZE Band also has the lowest profile of any injection port, minimizing its appearance even as weight is lost.
Preparation for the REALIZE Band Surgery
The decision to undergo a bariatric procedure should never be made without careful deliberation. Once the patient understands the procedure and, in consultation with the surgeon, commits to having it performed, a series of preoperative evaluations are performed to ensure the patient's physical health and psychological well-being after the surgery. To prepare, lifestyle changes may include:
- Giving up smoking at least 30 days before the surgery
- Eating several small, balanced meals each day
- Starting a high-protein liquid diet
Patients should also refrain from alcohol use for at least 48 hours before the surgery.
REALIZE Band Surgery
The Realize Band is a doughnut-shaped balloon made of strong, flexible silicone. The band is wrapped around the upper part of the stomach, creating two parts: a small upper pouch and the lower stomach. A narrow passage leads from the new pouch to the rest of the stomach. This slows down the emptying of food from the pouch and causes the patient to feel full sooner. Tightening and loosening the REALIZE Band narrows and widens the passageway to the lower stomach and affects how much food the patient is able to eat during a single meal. The surgeon controls the tightness of the REALIZE Band by injecting a saline solution into the band through a special port under the skin of the abdomen.
Adjustable gastric banding with the REALIZE Band is usually performed laparoscopically, meaning that the surgeon makes several small incisions as opposed to one large one. This involves less tissue trauma than open surgery, resulting in a shorter hospital stay, a faster recovery, smaller scars, and less pain. The entire procedure typically takes about one hour to perform.
Risks of REALIZE Band Surgery
While REALIZE Band surgery is considered to be a safe procedure, there are risks to any surgical procedure which may include bleeding, blood clots, damage to adjacent organs or a reaction to the anesthesia. Complications particular to bariatric surgery may include:
- Slippage of the band with persistent vomiting
- Erosion of the band into the inside of the stomach
- Leakage and deflation of the band
- Enlargement of the stomach pouch
- Blockage of the stoma
Some patients may develop gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) after bariatric surgery.
Recovery from REALIZE Band Surgery
Diet
As with any weight loss procedure, recovery from REALIZE Band surgery involves a readjustment of eating habits. Usually, the patient's diet is restricted to liquids for the first two weeks after surgery to help reduce stomach swelling. Solid foods are gradually reintroduced.
Exercise
The patient is required to keep active after surgery in order to reduce the risk of pneumonia and blood clots. Exercise is a necessary part of the post-surgical weight loss regimen.
Typically, an individual who is recovering from REALIZE Band surgery will lose from one to two pounds per week and can expect to lose an average of 40 percent of excess body weight during the first year.