
Vertical Banded Gastroplasty (VBG) is a kind of stomach surgery, and it is very beneficial for a person with obesity. Controlling obesity is a task that can’t be accomplished without food control. With the help of this surgery, patients can reduce their food intake and manage their diet without feeling hungry.
Vertical Banded Gastroplasty (VBG), also known as stomach stapling, is a restrictive operation for weight control. Both a band and staples are used to create a small stomach pouch. In the bottom of the pouch is an approximate one-centimeter hole through which the pouch contents can flow into the remainder of the stomach and thence onto the remainder of the gastrointestinal tract.
What is Vertical Banded Gastroplasty (VBG)?
Stomach stapling is a restrictive technique for managing obesity. The pouch limits the amount of food a patient can eat at one time and slows the passage of the food. Stomach stapling is more effective when combined with a malabsorptive technique, in which a portion of the digestive tract is bypassed, thereby reducing the absorption of calories and nutrients. Combined restrictive and malabsorptive techniques are called gastric bypass techniques, of which Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (RGB) is the most common. In this technique, staples are used to form a pouch that is connected to the small intestine, bypassing the lower stomach, the duodenum, and the first portion of the jejunum.
This type of weight loss surgery is losing favor as more doctors begin using the adjustable gastric band. The newer adjustable band does not require cutting into the stomach and does not use any staple lines, thus making it a much safer alternative.
What are the Advantages of Vertical Banded Gastroplasty (VBG)?
It is considered one of the best methods to control weight and one of the two. Before surgery, options like sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass started, it was considered the best option. Why is it still good? The answer is the method of doing this surgery by doctors. By this method intestine can also absorb more and more nutrition, but patients will eat less, and food will also move through the gut at a slow pace.

Advantages of Vertical Banded Gastroplasty (VBG)
It makes this special pace with the help of the rubber pouch, which is adjusted under the stomach to reduce the movement of the food through the intestine. Here is what you can expect after a Vertical Banded Gastroplasty in India:
- No risk of calorie deficiency.
- You will feel less hungry and get full easily.
- Unlike some other bariatric surgeries, the intestines are not cut or rerouted, so the body can still absorb nutrients normally.
- You can expect weight loss with less effort.
- No permanent removal of the stomach lumen was noticed in different types of surgery
- Just the section and band of the pouch in the stomach.
- Since digestion remains mostly the same, there is less chance of vitamin and mineral shortages compared to malabsorptive surgeries.
What are the Disadvantages of the VBG?
High fiber foods and foods with a more dense, natural consistency can become very difficult to eat, while highly refined foods cause little discomfort. Most people who regain any weight lost after surgery do so because choosing "healthier" foods is harder to digest, while "junk" food passes easily.
VBG is in no way a magic bullet or pill. It must be emphasized that lifestyle changes, i.e., diet and exercise, are absolutely imperative for weight loss to occur and be maintained. Realistic expectations are imperative.
- Needs strict patient compliance with the diet
- Reversal of a VBG requires a much more complex and intensive surgical process than getting the VBG.
- When removal of a polyurethane band is involved (polyurethane was predominantly used in the 1980s and 90s), it likely has built substantial scar tissue that must also be removed, depending on how long ago the VBG took place.
- Removal of the staples involves stitching the previously separated parts of the stomach back together. For these reasons, a reversal should only be considered if there are serious medical complications.
- Vomiting and severe discomfort may occur if food is not properly chewed or if food is eaten too quickly.
What are the Different Procedures of Weight Loosing?
Different types of weight-loss surgery help you reduce calorie intake. You have to choose one according to the suggestions of the doctor and experts. They are also known as bariatric surgeries, which are especially known among obese people, and they are popular in Western countries.
Every type of surgery is not recommended for the person. Here are some latest recommendations to you:
- Gastric Sleeve (Sleeve Gastrectomy) – Removes a large portion of the stomach, leaving a narrow tube, reducing food intake.
- Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) – Creates a small stomach pouch and reroutes the intestines to limit food absorption and intake.
- Vertical Banded Gastroplasty (VBG) – Makes a small stomach pouch with a band to slow food passage and reduce meal size.
- Adjustable Gastric Band (Lap-Band) – Places an adjustable silicone band around the upper stomach to control food intake.
- Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch (BPD/DS) – Combines stomach reduction and significant intestinal rerouting for major calorie malabsorption.
- Intragastric Balloon – A temporary balloon placed in the stomach to take up space and reduce hunger.
- Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty – Uses a minimally invasive approach to shrink the stomach without traditional surgery.
What is the Cost of Vertical Banded Gastroplasty (VBG)?
The cost of the Vertical Banded Gastroplasty depends on the situation. There are different procedures, and this is a very specific surgery; there is no subtype of the surgery. The cost ranges from 2.5 lakhs to 6 lakhs. When you enquire more about this surgery, you will know there are no specific differences and the technology used in older people.
In place of this, there are other options for the patients, which are mentioned above. You can dive differently for the same procedure. The cost also depends on the duration of each person in the hospital. Patients also have to consider travel and stay expenses and diagnostic imaging costs.
Different Factors Affecting the Cost
Health of the Patient- It is the most important factor because if the patient is obese or in very bad condition, it would be tough for doctors to help them in surgery.
Infrastructure of Hospitals- The Infrastructure of any hospital and expertise of the doctors also contribute to charging more; it is worth believing that such hospitals in most cases.
Revision surgeries- Usually, revision surgeries have a higher cost in comparison to the previous surgeries. There are different forms and revisions of every surgery.
Success rate of Surgery- A larger number of successful surgeries directly indicates the best experienced doctors, thus a factor affecting the overall cost.
Agencies for Treatment- Generally, if you are going through mediators, they will charge you, and of course, that is beneficial because they will make everything easy for you.
Recovery Rate after the Surgery- Yes, this makes everything easier in comparison to the previous surgery options. If you are one with more better recovery rate, then it would be better to check the extra charges of the hospital.
Statistics of the Vertical Banded Gastroplasty (VBG)
Long-term outcomes can be seen in this surgery, and it is the best option for the person with more weight. Vertical Banded Gastroplasty (VBG), once a common restrictive bariatric surgery, has shown mixed long-term outcomes. There are different reasons of increasing of the fat in the human body, and excess weight loss (EWL) was 53%; these diseases are noticed in 54% of people.
- VBG is a restrictive weight-loss surgery that reduces stomach size with a band.
- Average excess weight loss (EWL) is around 50–55% in long-term follow-ups.
- About 54% of patients see improvement in comorbidities like diabetes and hypertension.
- Complications are common: 39% may require revision due to pouch or outlet issues.
- Outlet stenosis occurs in roughly 10%, and pouch dilation in 17% of cases.
- In long-term studies, 60% of patients maintain EWL > 50%.
- Laparoscopic VBG has very low mortality (~0.16%) and major complications (~1.14%).
- Most revisions are converted to Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, with a serious complication rate of ~14–15%.
- VBG is less common today due to higher revision rates and newer procedures.
In Which Condition can a person choose VBG?
A person struggling with hypertension, obesity, and diabetes, and not getting anything from medications and other options, should try VBG. It is better for severely overweight individuals (morbid obesity). A person can choose this because rerouting is not performed, hence you will be saved from malabsorption.
Intestinal routing is not performed in this surgery, hence good for patients with dysfunctions. It is also one of the least invasive and reversible procedures. When food in your gut moves at a slow pace, that will be more beneficial for you. Calorie deficiencies are never noticed in these situations.
We Care Health Services for the Vertical Banded Gastroplasty (VBG)
We Care Health Services is the best Hospital agency for people seeking different types of surgical treatments. Diseases like cancer, heart conditions, and fertility treatments can also be corrected with the help of doctors. We are offering you the best treatment plan and a personalized one. There are different options through means of technology.
We are best in cost transparency, have the best doctors for your treatment, and different technological advancements in the same field. There are no excuses from outside for the waiting list. If you are one dealing with chaos and need emergency care, then we are also good with that. Here are a few things that you can do with our help:
- Finding the best doctors for Vertical banded gastroplasty and different bariatric surgeries.
- Knowing more about the cost transparency and the best affordable treatment.
- Treatment with a minimum waiting list.
- Best options for staying in the country at the time of treatment.
- High success rate of the surgeries that you are planning.
- You can opt for treatment with high technology and in less time.
We are the best option with good reviews, doctors, and affordable prices. We have successfully treated patients with different cases and chaos. There are many things that they can’t manage at the same time, and we help them with those tasks.