Gastric Banding

Also called keyhole surgery, it involves 1-5 cuts in the abdomen to place a tiny camera and surgical instruments. The stomach is separated into an upper part and a lower part by placing a silicon band around it.
The silicon band squeezes the stomach into a pouch with an outlet about an inch long. This opening goes into the larger part of the stomach. The band is connected by a piece of fine latex tubing to the injection port, which is placed on the abdominal wall under the skin.

This is done by attaching a tube to the band, under the skin and injecting or removing saline (sterile salt water) through it. Injecting saline tightens the band and removing it loosens the band.