▁p ouch ▁at ▁the ▁top ▁of ▁the ▁st om ach . ▁This ▁p ouch ▁holds ▁approximately ▁ ½ ▁cup ▁of ▁food , ▁whereas ▁the ▁typical ▁st om ach ▁holds ▁about ▁ 6 ▁cu ps ▁of ▁food . ▁The ▁p ouch ▁fills ▁with ▁food ▁quickly , ▁and ▁the ▁band ▁slow s ▁the ▁passage ▁of ▁food ▁from ▁the ▁p ouch ▁to ▁the ▁lower ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁st om ach . ▁As ▁the ▁upper ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁st om ach ▁registers ▁as ▁full , ▁the ▁message ▁to ▁the ▁brain ▁is ▁that ▁the ▁entire ▁st om ach ▁is ▁full , ▁and ▁this ▁sens ation ▁helps ▁the ▁person ▁to ▁be ▁hun gry ▁less ▁often , ▁feel ▁full ▁more ▁quickly ▁and ▁for ▁a ▁longer ▁period ▁of ▁time , ▁eat ▁smaller ▁port ions , ▁and ▁lose ▁weight ▁over ▁time . ▁ ▁As ▁patients ▁lose ▁weight , ▁their ▁bands ▁will ▁need ▁adjust ments , ▁or ▁" fill s ", ▁to ▁ensure ▁comfort ▁and ▁effect iveness . ▁The ▁g astr ic ▁band ▁is ▁adjust ed ▁by ▁introdu cing ▁a ▁sal ine ▁solution ▁into ▁a ▁small ▁access ▁port ▁placed ▁just ▁under ▁the ▁skin . ▁A ▁special ized ▁non - cor ing ▁need le ▁is ▁used ▁to ▁avoid ▁damage ▁to ▁the ▁port ▁memb rane ▁and ▁prevent ▁leak age . ▁There ▁are ▁many ▁port ▁designs ▁( such ▁as ▁high ▁profile ▁and ▁low ▁profile ), ▁and ▁they ▁may ▁be ▁placed ▁in ▁varying ▁positions ▁based ▁on ▁the ▁sur geon ' s ▁preference , ▁but ▁are ▁always ▁attached ▁( through ▁s ut ures , ▁st ap les ,