Heard both terms. ???

never heard the term "vertical band"

Joyv, here is some information I am gonna type you out of the book "Successful Weight Loss With The Gastric Sleeve" by Dr. Guillermo Alvarez (my doctor).

Vertical Banded Gastroplasty:

The vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) is a restrictive procedure rarely done nowadays because of very poor weight loss and high percentage of long-term complications compared to other weight loss procedures. It consists of creating a gastric pouch based on the lesser curvature of the stomach created by a stapler device. The outlet of this pouch is restricted with a prosthetic band or mesh. The VBG is a purely restrictive procedure. This procedure used to be very popular because it is a simple operation and has a low risk of early surgical complications. Although short-term results looked promising, long-term results were not favorable and were associated with complications.

http://www.docshop.com/education/bariatrics/gastric-banding/vbg I am unable to post a picture as Im not sure how.. That link will take you to a picture of the procedure.

My best friend and his aunt both had VBGs done in 2003. He said the first 100 lbs came off without thinking but it is a tool and had to really work at getting the rest of his weight off. He fluctuates between 150-160 but has been able to lose and maintain a 170 lb weight loss.