Removed eroded gastric band. Gastric band that has been surgically removed due to a complication known as an eroded gastric band. Gastric bands are used to treat obesity. The band is placed around the stomach near its upper end, restricting the amount of food a patient can eat and helping weight loss. One possible complication is erosion or migration, where the gastric band grows into the stomach. This gastric band has been removed using laparoscopic instruments that were inserted through holes in the abdomen. Photographed in 2014.