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Realize Band Surgery

Achieve and maintain a healthier weight with the REALIZE Adjustable Gastric Band.

The REALIZE Adjustable Gastric Band provides a safe and effective way to achieve and maintain a healthier weight—without cutting or stapling your stomach. The band limits the amount of food you can eat at one time. As a result, you feel full sooner and stay satisfied longer. That makes it easier to adopt, and stick with, healthy eating and lifestyle habits.

The REALIZE Band works in tandem with the REALIZE mySUCCESS® Program to help you achieve your weight loss goals. This Web-based clinical support tool is designed to help you achieve and maintain a healthier weight.

REALIZE mySUCCESS® was developed in consultation with surgeons, dietitians, and behavior modification specialists who identified two essential stages for success following surgery. Stage 1: Building healthy habits over the first 18 months. Stage 2: Staying motivated, on track, and connected with Columbia Bariatrics over the next 18 months and beyond.

The REALIZE Band is shown to help patients lose significant weight and improve their health.

In a 3-year clinical trial:

  • Patients lost a mean of 40% of their excess weight at 1 year and 43% at 3 years.1
  • The REALIZE Band helped resolve 48.7% of type 2 diabetes, 78.3% of high cholesterol, and 94.6% of obstructive sleep apnea problems.1
  • Patients experienced a 22% increase in good cholesterol (HDL) 36 months after surgery. They also experienced a decrease in bad cholesterol (LDL), total cholesterol, and triglycerides.1

How the REALIZE® Adjustable Gastric Band helps you lose weight

During the gastric band procedure, the REALIZE Band is placed around the uppermost part of the stomach, dividing it into two parts: a small upper pouch and a lower stomach. The upper pouch can hold only about 4 ounces (1/2 cup) of food. As a result, you eat less food at one time, feel full sooner, and feel satisfied longer. The goal is to lose weight gradually, at a healthy rate of 1 to 2 pounds per week.

No part of your stomach is stapled or removed during surgery, and your intestines are not rerouted, so you can continue to absorb nutrients from food.

The degree of band tightness affects how much food you can eat during a meal and the length of time it takes for food to empty from the upper pouch. When the band is adjusted to the proper tightness, you'll feel full sooner and stay fuller longer. As the REALIZE Band helps you eat less food, your body will stop storing excess calories and start using its fat supply for energy.

The REALIZE Band is made entirely of biocompatible materials, which means it's able to be placed inside your body without causing harm. The side of the REALIZE Band that fits against your stomach is lined with a soft balloon. After the gastric banding surgery, saline (a safe fluid) is delivered into the balloon to control the band tightness.