This surgery is not suited for patients who have conditions like Chron’s disease, large hiatus hernias or a history of stomach ulcers.

Despite having lowering complications compared to more invasive and involved weight loss surgeries, The Lap Band has a number of risks pertaining directly to this kind of surgery.   The most serious is death occurring either during surgery or shortly after, which is directly related to the surgery.  The death rate reported is less than 1% but that percentage is not based on all of the deaths, since every death that occurred has not been reported.  It has only been licensed as a procedure for use in the since 2001, even though it has been around for more than 10 years.  Since 1994, has been the forefront of pioneering the use of laparoscopic adjustable band surgery.  Their reported death rate out of 2700 patients was nil; not one patient died.  Considering the differences between the two countries, the experience of the surgeon is a major factor in terms of both the risks and complications.  The most significant risk after lap band surgery is the tearing of the wall of the stomach which happens in about 1% of patients.  One study reported that the vast majority of complications are as high as 88% ranging from mild to severe.  No wonder Dr. Rutledge and Dr. Peralgie need to surgically help out so may failed Lap Band surgery patients.

 Lap Band surgery causes less weight loss and a slower rate of weight loss compared to something like the MGB or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Approximately half of patients will develop different degrees of nausea and vomiting, and one third will suffer from GERD.  About a quarter of patients will experience a slippage of the band and one patient in seven will experience a blockage of the passage between the two sections of the stomach. The band can also become eroded into the stomach as well as twisting, causing a leakage of the access port.  Also quite common is difficulty swallowing, constipation and diarrhea.  Less than 1% develops complications such as gastritis, hiatus hernia, pancreatitis, dehydration, abdominal pain, flatulence, chest pain and infection.  When the Lap Band is performed laparoscopically, there seems to be fewer risks and complications.  I went to a few on line sites support sites where there are Lap Band patients are either frustrated,  depressed  or angry due to the complications they have had post surgery.  Some have had to have the procedure down over again up as much as up to three times.  One woman reported that: “my esophagus is accommodating and enlarging at the end near my stomach.  I am getting really depressed about this.  You make a decision to have surgery, which is of feat and then you get slapped down with problems.  My surgeon is a nice guy and says I frustrate him – he should live in my shoes!!!! I have 4 kids and am 44, I want to see my kids grow up and their kids grow up.” 

If you would like to email me, my email is [email protected].  Hope this helps.

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