Background The gastric outlet represents a critical point of laparoscopic vertical banded gastroplasty (LVBG): the diameter and the material used to calibrate the gastric outlet are essential for long-term success. We present the results of our initial clinical experience with the Proring band, a new calibrating device specifically designed to calibrate LVBG outlet. Methods Between February and April 2004, 13 LVBG were performed using the Proring band. There were 12 women and one man; their mean age was 44 years; mean preoperative weight was 118.8 kg; mean body mass index (BMI) was 44.4 kg/m(2). Results The immediate postoperative course was uneventful in all cases. In the follow-up 10 patients out of 13 (76.9%) presented a sudden or progressive food intolerance. Five patients were immediately reoperated by laparoscopic approach and five underwent endoscopic dilatation with initial clinical improvement; early recurrence of symptoms despite further dilatations occurred in four out of five cases. These four patients were then reoperated. Therefore a total of nine (69.2%) patients underwent a laparoscopic reoperation with Proring band removal and its replacement with a polypropylene band. In seven cases an intraoperative endoscopic dilatation was associated with the laparoscopic procedure. Outcome was successful in all cases, with discharge after two days. Conclusion The results of our experience using the Proring band are unsatisfactory, showing 76.9% with outlet stenosis and 69.2% with reoperations. These data compare negatively with our previous experience on more than 900 VBG procedures using polypropylene mesh.