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Band adjustments after gastric banding surgery

Band adjustments will be needed as long as you have your gastric band. An adjustment can be done at your surgeon's office.

During adjustments, the surgeon adds or removes saline from the band.

Adjustments are called "fills" when saline is added. Fills tighten the band to increase the amount of tightness around your upper stomach.

When the surgeon places the band in surgery, it does not have any saline in it. You will still feel some restriction from the empty band.

After surgery, your stomach needs time to heal before you have your first adjustment. This usually takes six weeks.

Getting an adjustment

It is best to have an empty stomach each time you have a band adjustment. It is recommended you not eat any solid or soft foods for two hours before an adjustment.

• Your surgeon or surgeon's assistant may use one of two methods to locate the port where the saline needs to be injected.
• X-rays will be taken to locate the port.
• The surgeon or assistant will press on your abdomen to find the port.
• The surgeon or assistant will disinfect and numb your skin. He or she will insert a fine needle through your skin into the port. The needle may feel like a pin prick.
• The saline will enter the port through the needle.
• After the saline has been added, the surgeon or assistant will ask you to drink some water to make sure the band has not been filled too tightly.
• At each adjustment, a small amount of saline will be added until you are able to eat less and lose weight at an appropriate rate without side effects. This will be your ideal fill level.
  • You will know you have found the right fill level when you are able to lose one to two pounds a week.
• After an adjustment you will need to be on two days of liquids and then two days of pureed foods.

Related Links

Gastric banding surgery for weight loss

Gastric Banding: A Guide for Patients (38-page handbook)

Open or laparascopic surgery

First published: 10/24/2008
Last updated: 10/24/2008

Reviewed by: Allina Patient Education experts