Question:
Does anyone know of deaths caused by the Lap Band Surgery?

My surgery is scheduled for September. I have read about trouble with the gastric bypass but how's about Lap Band?    — Fergie (posted on August 16, 2006)

August 16, 2006
your question is somewhat misleading. What have you heard? Yes people have died, some people have never had any issues what so ever. If you are extremely ill now then your chances are it will take time for those illnesses to heal and you could be sick. Everyones body is different. I went 7 months and 1 day and never had an issue. Then in the next 6 months, I had 5 strictures, and a hernia. Would I do it again? Absolutley.I have never been so healthy right now. As for Bands, there are a lot is issues with it. You will have to research it and decide for yourself. Once again, this is a personal question. For myself, I would never consider because in my opinion it is a temporary fix of a life long problem. Some of those who have had Bands, 2-3 years later had a revision and did the RNY anyways. You can gain back all you lost and more with Bands. Please research it better. Read all the ins and outs. Good luck
   — Steve Cohen

August 16, 2006
I consulted with a doctor last week and he told me that with RNY you make a drastic change with your eating but lap band is not as restrictive. If you have a lot of weight to lose and want to lose it quickly, RNY is a better choice because you don't lose as quickly with lapband. The hospital stay is shorter with lapband also. You really need to do your research because no one can make the choice for you.
   — Sheri A.

August 16, 2006
I know of two. One several weeks out of surgery from nicked internal organ that went undiscovered, and one from, I believe, a pulmonary embolism while still in the hospital. Basically, the Band is an implant. The risks are similar to an implant anywhere else in the body .. knee, hip, etc, but you must take into consideration that they are implanting in an area where lots *could* go wrong (see nicked internal organ). Choose an experienced surgeon and ask him/her about complication rates. Don't be scared to ask. You're hiring him to do work for you. You'd make sure the plumber or electrician was the best in his field before hiring him, right? You wouldn't use a hairdresser w/o seeing their work first, right? The Band is a very effective tool for millions of people. Just know yourself and your eating/living/exercising habits very well, and do your research with that in mind before making a decision.
   — Jeanie

August 17, 2006

   — Tuxedo Katz

August 17, 2006
ALL surgeries carry a risk. If someone has died from a surgery chances are it's because of a complcation and not the actual proceedure they underwent. I had an RNY and had no problems other than medication tollerance issues. Just remember that this IS major surgery regardless of which proceedure you choose.
   — oceanrayne

August 18, 2006
All surgeries (wls, cardiac, ortho, etc...) have trouble and pose a host of risk factors, including death. The lap band is less invasive and requires less healing time. It has many risks also - some in common w/ the gastric bypass and some not. You can look up all the types of wls on this website and it will list the differences in the surgeries and the pro's and con's.
   — CHARLYLVN