From my surgeon of choice's website:  http://www.lgbsurgery.com/fobi_pouch.html The Fobi technique is performed in exactly the same manner as our laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass except for the addition of a nonadjustable silastic ring that is placed just above the connection between the new stomach pouch and the Roux-en-y limb of the small bowel.

One of the concerns about gastric bypass surgery has been the potential for weight regain as years go by. One of the mechanisms that may be responsible for weight regain is the stretching of the connection between the pouch and the small bowel. If this opening stretches over time the potential for allowing more food to be eaten increases and the feeling of fullness may be decreased. The purpose of Dr. Fobi's band is to stabilize the diameter of the opening that leads out of the stomach pouch and to prevent its stretching. The band is made from a silastic material and is placed around the pouch and secured in a very loose fashion. The purpose of the band is not to increase weight loss but rather to prevent long-term weight regain. Because the band is made out of an artificial material, it has a risk of erosion into the stomach pouch. The risk of this erosion is thought to be approximately 1.89% however new studies are yielding a lower percentage. When erosion occurs the results can be varied. It is possible that the erosion may go unnoticed entirely and the band will pass through the gastrointestinal tract without incident. On other occasions the band may cause discomfort, bleeding, or other gastrointestinal distress and may require removal. In some cases the removal can be performed endoscopically, in other cases a second operation may be required. There is statistical evidence suggesting that the band can prevent weight regain significantly. The option of adding the silastic band is in most cases entirely up to the patient.

I had the fobi pouch lap, no problems.  I love my fobi pouch......... the band is around the stoma to stop it from stretching, not the pouch. It is very hard to stretch the pouch, it is the stoma that stretchs. According to me doctor it is caused from people not chewing their food well enough. The band stops that from happening. 

Hi, I had a revision on Dec 4th, and I thought my Dr did the lap band around my RNY pouch, but I had my followup today and he told me he did a fobi pouch. I was so confused, I haven't heard much about that on these sites. I am looking everything up that I can. I did have mine lap, and had a hernia repair and gallbladder removal at the same time.

Hi Linda,

The Fobi pouch is a RNY.  The main difference is that after they do the RNY, they put a band around the pouch.  It restricts the intake even more.  Everything I eat has to be about the size of a dime or it'll get stuck.  I know even RNYers have this too.  The Fobi pouch RNY cannot be done laproscopic, only open.  I think the laproscopic RNY is more widely used for that reason.  The reason Brenda and I chose the Open was because they had some indication that it was more successful....no statistics, but we decided to go with it anyway.  For us, it was the right choice.  Now that Brenda's band has been removed, hers is just like the normal RNY.  I still have the band and have had no problems.  We are both at goal now.  I'm actually lower than I hoped for.  I've lost 140 pounds and Brenda lost 195 pounds. Have a great weekend.  Always good to see your posts.  Floyd

 

Hi Linda, I will be happy to tell you why I regained alot of my weight back (I didn't gain all back).  First, I hope your post is not asking to lecture me about my "tool."  With that said about 2 years out I started back struggling with weight.  I never had dumping syndrome so I could still eat whatever I want without side effect.  Eventually, the pouch stretches out and I can now eat almost as much as I could pre-surgery.  Unfortunately, bad habit crept back and I was back on the yo-yo dieting track again.  A good forum you should view is the revision forum.  Hopes this helps.