Lap Band and question re. erosion

I'm still in the pre-op stage and have one concern that is holding me back on committing to lap band and that is band erosion. My understanding is that band erosion is increasing -- does anyone have a sense on why that is happening?  Is it the substance the band is made of (silicone)? -- sizing? -- wear over time? Any informtion anyone can provide on band erosion is much appreciated. Also, any personal anecdotes would be appreciated -- how do you inow if you have band erosion? Can erosion be happening and you don't know? When you find out, canthe condition be catastrophic? Again, thanks for your help. 

If you go to the National Institutes of Health website, you will find lots of useful information about the respective risks and potential complications of the various bariatric surgery methods. A 2004 Swiss study suggested that erosion would effect almost 7% of banded patients.
Although it's important to understand the various risks and complications of the weight loss method you choose, try to keep in mind that you should balance the risks of one surgery, not just with the risks of other methods, but also with the very real risk of remaining obese. What you'll find is that, because all of the surgical methods have different types of complications, the goal is to find the method that best addresses your primary issue (grazing, portion control, bingeing, etc.) and that requires a post-operative program with which you are willing to comply.