▁g astr ic ▁wall ▁in ▁event ▁of ▁rub bing , ▁the ▁device ▁contains ▁no ▁sharp ▁edges ▁or ▁irregular ities . ▁It ▁is ▁also ▁op aque ▁to ▁x - ray s , ▁making ▁it ▁easy ▁to ▁locate ▁and ▁adjust . ▁The ▁H eli og ast ▁band ▁entered ▁the ▁market ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 3 . ▁The ▁device ▁features ▁a ▁stream lined ▁band ▁to ▁ease ▁insert ion ▁during ▁the ▁operation . ▁ ▁S urg ical ▁indic ations ▁In ▁general , ▁g astr ic ▁band ing ▁is ▁indicated ▁for ▁people ▁for ▁whom ▁all ▁of ▁the ▁following ▁apply : ▁Body ▁Mass ▁Index ▁above ▁ 4 0 , ▁or ▁those ▁who ▁are ▁ 1 0 0 ▁pounds ▁( 7 ▁stone / 4 5 ▁kil og rams ) ▁or ▁more ▁over ▁their ▁estimated ▁ideal ▁weight , ▁according ▁to ▁the ▁National ▁Instit utes ▁of ▁Health , ▁or ▁those ▁with ▁a ▁B MI ▁between ▁ 3 0 ▁and ▁ 4 0 ▁with ▁co - m orb id ities ▁that ▁may ▁improve ▁with ▁weight ▁loss ▁( type ▁ 2 ▁di ab etes , ▁hy pert ension , ▁high ▁ch ol ester ol , ▁non - al co hol ic ▁fat ty ▁li ver ▁disease ▁and ▁ob struct ive ▁sleep ▁ap nea .) ▁Age ▁between ▁ 1 8 ▁and ▁ 5 5 ▁years ▁( although ▁there ▁are ▁do ctors ▁who ▁will ▁work ▁outside ▁these ▁ages , ▁some ▁as ▁young ▁as ▁ 1 2 ). ▁Fail ure ▁of ▁med ically ▁super vised ▁di et ary ▁ther apy ▁( for ▁about ▁ 6 ▁months