Weight-loss surgery warning

Yes. My own surgeon has been doing bands since 2005 in the UK and before that in Australia. I asked him about six months ago for his overall feelings about banding (he does the sleeve and the bypass as well and as he works for the National Health Service has no financial axe to grind) . His response was that around 15-20% of his banded patients have problems after a few years and of those, some will require re-ops, some simply require temporary unfills.. Quite a high figure; we have to decide as individuals whether take that chance. But he has removed very few bands.  He says that my own experience with my band is by no means unusual.

about six months ago, I moved house and moved doctors as well. My new surgeon does very few bands, nowadays preferring to sleeve people. But he told me that this was because it was too easy for people to abuse their bands. After all, we got to this stage because we had eating disorders, surgery doesn't magically make us compliant people with amazing will power!  So he also says the band has a role for those who work with it, whilst accepting that for some, this is not possible. 

I just have to point out that reflux is NOT a small issue!  Nor is erosion or slips.  Fixing a port and tubing require another surgery and that in not a small issue.  They are all MAJOR issues with even 15-20%, you have a 1 in five chance of these MAJOR issues.   One surgeon at our center just this last year has admitted to 30%, he isn't working there anymore.  BUT, that doesn't include those that have gone to the other centers that have sprung up in the last couple years to get them removed or others they have lost track of.

Just go into it with your eyes open. Knowing what is a small issue and what isn't would be good. Also remember that many lose their insurance after banding and follow-up is cost prohibited for them.  

I knew I would beat the odds as I followed all the rules to the letter.  I'm anal and did just as I was told. NOT!

Good Luck with your band.

Totally agree! To me a small issue is a few PBs, very occasional heartburn. Reflux is, as you say is not a small issue. The other poster misinterpreted what I said.  My figures of 15-20% referred to things which were not small!! They might range from treatable but potentially very serious if not dealt with (minor oesopahgeal dilation, for example)  though to extremely serious requiring band removal (e.g. erosion).  With anything requiring a re-op and repair being in the middle! 

Yes, the poster did.  I realize what your were saying  They're reading what they want to hear and not what we are saying.

Good Morning Kate

Good afternoon over here, Pumpkin. Greetings.  Hope is well with you.

I have a new lap top and I HATE IT, our new puppy won't stay out of the damn pool, and my daughter is getting married soon, and I LOVE MY DRESS

Nuisance but will get better.

Nuisance but CUTE

Congratulations 

And isn't it FABULOUS to enjoy clothes and feel good in them!!! Hope you all have a great day!   Kafe

Well...this warning has been out since I got my band over 8 years ago -- this is nothing new...BUT...do you think a woman who will lose weight by ANY MEANS necessary WILL LISTEN? Do you honestly THINK many will stop vomiting with a too tight band just because someone dies?

Another mistake, why was she seeing a General Practitioner with aftercare? They KNOW NOTHING ABOUT the band, this is what drove up the complication rate in the US -- ignorance and poor aftercare, and patients going to the GI, primary care doctors for aftercare with their bands, and *gasp* fills.

There will be ALWAYS be ignorance with the band, eating disorders and bulimia, some get the band just to further ENHANCE their bulimia,  and many will continue to IGNORE a too tight band, and some people never see their band surgeon again..-- well until they have to get it removed in an emergency situation and it almost kill them from being too tight and frequent vomiting -- or in this case death.

This is why some surgeons do NOT trust a lot of women with the band because it can be easily abused, and surgeons nowadays SHOULD carefully select who they put bands on, because the restriction is in the hands of the patient, surgeons rely on patient honesty in how tight they become, this is why there is a VERY HIGH complication rate with the band, to be HONEST, when the band is properly adjusted and installed properly and the patient has good aftercare and don't keep it too tight, the band HAS A VERY VERY LOW COMPLICATION RATE.

So...the band IS the least invasive WHEN it is not abused and installed properly. 95 percent of lap band complications are PREVENTABLE.

This persons death was totally preventable and is truly sad.