Lap Band Complications

Lap band complications are something that anyone considering this surgery is going to need to be aware of, so that you can be knowledgeable. Instances of complications are actually rare, but the possibility exists for things to happen. With that being said, the experts consider the most complicated aspect of this surgery to be changing your lifestyle to do the things necessary to live healthy.

Since the gastric banding is a medical procedure and anesthesia is used and incisions are made, you will be facing the standard risks that come with any surgery, such as; excess bleeding, blood clots and infection. While these conditions are not common, they can happen. Then there are problems that can occur that are unique to the gastric banding procedure.

The port that is used to fill the band is sutured to the abdominal muscle layer. There are rare instances when these sutures will come lose and the port will flip over. If this happens, it cannot be filled in the normal manner. In most cases, it will require surgery in order to reposition and secure the port. There are also reasons that the band or port can leak. These instances are extremely rare and can usually be fixed by minor surgery normally done as an outpatient.

Band slippage is the one for the most common problems with the gastric banding procedure. The band can slip up or down. There is also the possibility that the stomach may become herniated. Normally an upper GI X-ray will be done to find out exactly what has happened with the band. From the X-ray the surgeon will determine the course of action. The band may just need resutured, but it is possible it will need removed and another type of bariatric surgery may be necessary.

Overall, gastric banding is very safe and only mildly invasive. If you weigh the risks associated with the surgical procedure and the risks associated with being obese, being obese will be much riskier in the long run. If you have struggled with being overweight for a long time and have obesity related medical conditions, this procedure may help you regain the health you once had.

The biggest problem with weight loss surgery is not making the necessary lifestyle changes. And I believe this to be truer with the lap band than a roux-en-y. Although the size of your stomach is severely restricted, everything you eat will be fully absorbed. Sugar and fat consumption don’t tend to cause the discomfort in gastric banding patients as they do in roux-en-y patients. This can affect the amount of weight that is lost or regained.

At the end of the day, you should be aware of anything that could complicate a medical procedure or could present problems over time. But it is important also to weigh the risks against the benefits of what you are considering. Some of the best information available is other people’s experiences. Cost can also be a factor when it comes to making decisions. Bariatric surgery has actually become affordable in recent years.