Research

Mixed

Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding (LAGB) provides durable weight loss (~49% EWL) over 20 years, but is associated with high reoperation rates that have decreased with improved band design and surgical technique.

If you choose LAGB, be prepared for long-term commitment to aftercare and potential adjustments. While the initial reoperation rates were high, modern techniques have significantly improved safety and reduced complications. The weight loss is durable, lasting up to 20 years, making it a viable option if you are willing to manage the device and follow-up.

ModerateQualifiesMEDIUM confidence
Weight loss at 20 years (N = 35) was 30.1 kg, 48.9%EWL and 22.2% total weight loss (%TWL). Reoperation rate was initially high but reduced markedly with improved band and surgical and aftercare techniques.
Paul E. O’Brien et al. · Obesity Surgery · 2018

Why this rating

Based on a large single-center cohort (8378 patients) with 20-year follow-up, but with high loss to follow-up (54% overall, lower at 20 years).

Source

Long-Term Outcomes After Bariatric Surgery: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Weight Loss at 10 or More Years for All Bariatric Procedures and a Single-Centre Review of 20-Year Outcomes After Adjustable Gastric Banding

Paul E. O’Brien et al. · Obesity Surgery · 2018

DOI 10.1007/s11695-018-3525-0

Meta-analysis · 57 studiesCited 790×
Read the paper
DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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