Gastric banding
	The gastric band is placed around the upper part of the stomach by laparoscopy through 4 small incisions (1/2 – 2 cm long) in the abdomen, under GA (General Anesthesia) for an hour or two.
	Advantages:
	A very simple procedure for patients ; quick recovery of patient & short stay in the hospital that the patient can discharge the next day to operation ; minimal scarring , No cutting of any part of the stomach or bowels , No intestinal rerouting, The band doesn’t cause malnutrition. The band is covered from inside with a balloon & linked to a thin tubing which is connected to a valve; the valve is inserted under the skin. This insertion allows inflating the balloon throughout the valve with a special liquid narrowing the passage between the pouch & the stomach. Efficiency of the band technique in weight loss. This procedure has proved efficient over 18 years. The ratio of weight loss in the first year is about 50 % of the extra weight. Less pain postoperatively. Sooner recovery & going back to normal activity & back to work.
	Complications & disadvantages of gastric band:
	Stretched pouch in the long run: due to the patient’s bad eating habits (Eating amounts of food bigger than the size of the pouch). Need for inflating the balloon many times to fit & work efficiently on weight loss. High prices of gastric bands.