Lap Band Surgery: Is it dangerous?
Modern science has experienced advancement in the field of weight loss surgery with the introduction of different types of surgery like the gastric lap band surgery. This form of surgery is much safer than the earlier options of open gastric bypass surgery. However like all things in life, there are some risks associated to lap band surgery that should be discussed before making the final decision.
Lap band surgery has not only risks associated with this type of a surgery, but also carries the other risks associated with other forms of major surgeries. Of course, there are also the complications that arise with lap band surgery that is common with patients who are overweight. The most dangerous and serious risk of lap band surgery is the possibility of death occurring either during or after the surgery and because of some reason other reason related to the surgery.
However in this nuptial stage of lap band surgery, there have been few deaths reported so far, less than 1%. Of course, to reduce the possibility of risks and complications associated with lap band surgery, it is important to remember that the experience of the surgeon is an important factor. Surgeons, who have successfully used this technique of surgery about 100 times, offer a better success rate in the operation.
Your age, weight, presence of any health diseases that may be directly or indirectly related to your weight problem and your body’s reaction to anesthesia are some of the risks associated with lap band surgery. The most important lap band related risk that may occur during lap band surgery is a gastric perforation where a tear forms in the wall of the stomach. This risk occurs in about one percent of the cases.
The complications of lap band surgery usually occur in the weeks and months that follow the surgery. However these complications need not be serious and range from mild to severe. Nausea, vomiting and regurgitation, a condition called gastro esophageal reflux may occur in some patients. Then there are some people who may experience a slippage of the lap band while some others find an obstruction in the passage between the two divisions of the stomach.
Some rare cases of patients of lap band surgery experience erosion of the band in the stomach and perhaps some leakage of twisting in the access port. Diarrhea, constipation and difficulty in swallowing are some other complications of lap band surgery. There may also be occasional cases of gastritis, dehydration, pancreatitis, chest pain, gas and infection.
Basically, laparoscopically performed gastric lap band surgery has less risks and complications than other forms of weight loss surgery. However do discuss risks with the surgeon before deciding to undergo lap band surgery.
Posted: March 15th, 2007 under Weight loss surgery.
Comments: 21
Comments
Comment from Dippity
Time: April 12, 2007, 7:46 am
I have a friend who is in the process of getting lap band surgery done. She is 100 lbs overweight. In my honest opinion, she has been very lazy about her health and weight loss. She eats like a pig, never exercises and has many many many health problems as a result of her lifestyle. She is also very vain……going through with a face lift, liposuction, laser surgery on spider veins on her face, etc. But she wants the easy way out and refuses to take care of herself on the inside. As a friend, I have let her know this! I wish she would get with the program and lose weight the proper way. lap- band is not going to work either, due to the fact that she is just plain lazy!
Comment from samskpun
Time: April 12, 2007, 8:40 am
Yes it is a quick fix. And i ‘ve seen people fail to loss weight after the surgery.
However, it is also a “Jump start” for many people. Many people give up traditional diet because it takes time to see result. On the other hand, Lap band give hope to some who will never get on diet (even with a expensive price)
Comment from Lina
Time: October 19, 2007, 2:09 pm
My answer to this question is: Yes the Lapband is dangerous as is any operation for severely obesive people BUT doing nothing can be much more dangerous.
A Lapband Operation while weighting 120 kg is probally less dangerous then an apendix operation when weighting 300 kg.
And the truth is sevre obesity is still a dease that diet does hardly ever cure.
Comment from Sade
Time: October 28, 2007, 3:19 pm
I am very well aware of the fact that lap band surgery do have some side effects but its better to go for lap band surgery rather then suffering from obesity which itself is the cause of various illness.
Comment from Lori
Time: December 27, 2007, 12:33 am
Lapband death stats. should be studied and updated. I live in a small central Illinois community and I know of one 33 year old woman who died of complications from lapband surgery and another who had to have emergency surgery to remove the port because of an infection and an abcess around the site. Both women had the surgery a year ago and the complications happened within the last month.
Comment from Steve
Time: February 25, 2008, 10:59 am
In response to Lori at the above comment did you ever think that since you live in a small community that the same dr. most likely performed both surgeries. Therefor it’s the Dr involved who has a poor track record and that is why you should do research on numerous Dr’s before you have this done. Don’t knock the band there have been study after study showing it’s safe compared to other WLS and a lot safer when compared to staying morbidly obese.
Comment from nuig
Time: June 25, 2008, 1:04 am
Please make sure you look into this surgery fully if considering it. My friend’s husband had the surgery, felt fine immediately afterwards, and died two days later. It was a shock to everyone. The risk are discussed, but seemed so insignificant statistically-speaking.
I almost clicked away from here without commenting, but felt guilty not sharing this and am hoping that it will be a small piece of info used to educate someone else in their decision. I am not here to talk anyone out of anything, because there are benefits, but please don’t forget the risks too.
Comment from lin
Time: August 31, 2008, 9:40 pm
what are the risks? Better question, what are the risks associated with this that could result in death?
Comment from Jess
Time: October 28, 2008, 6:27 am
my dad is actually having the lap band procedur this morning. He is about 50 pounds overweight, however he’s a diabetic and has sleep apnia (sp not quite sure of the correct spelling). He’s a walking heart attack or stroke waiting to happen. Since he’s having the surgery today I don’t have an opinion yet regarding it. However what seems to have been very difficult so far is diet the patient must go on 5 days prior to surgery. It’s a complete clear liquid diet. My dad has been basically eating chicken broth and jello. He’s had to crush all of his pills and have a special insulin regime developed for him. He’s been the most unpleastant person the last 5 days, crumpy, uncomfortable, and actually in pain. He’s passed out twice so far and developed an electrolight imbalance. I’m hoping the hard part for the most part over and once surgery is complete his body will adjust quickly. Has anyone ever heard of the first 5 days being as difficult or complicated as this experience? And does it get better or worse after surgery?
Comment from elizabeth
Time: December 21, 2008, 10:59 pm
A wonderful and dearly loved doctor in my community died over Thanksgiving holidays, three weeks after getting lap band surgery. She was 37 years old and the mother of 28 month old twins, what a waste of a wonderful woman.
She died of sepsis in her sleep while on a family trip.
Along with the dangers associated with this surgery there is also the issue of those with eating disorders, such as compulsive overeaters and binge eaters, thinking this will solve their problems. The problem is not what they are eating but why they are using food to cope. Without proper therapy and learning new and healthy coping skills the procedure is often unsuccessful and/or the person turns to another unhealthy coping skill such drugs, alcohol, or another obsessive behavior.
Comment from Holly
Time: January 18, 2009, 9:29 pm
Lap-band is definitely not the easy way out, regardless of what anyone thinks. It’s a tool to weight loss, NOT at all a “quick fix.”And it also isn’t as dangerous as ya’ll are making it out to be. I had lap-band surgery 5 months ago and I’m healthier now than I have ever been. But, I’ve had to work my butt off to get where I am. I also know many people who have had the surgery, and they are all perfectly healthy. If you go to a good doctor and follow the rules like you are supposed to, then you will be perfectly fine. And as for the pre-surgery diet, it’s normal to be grumpy just like on any diet but as long as you’re getting as much protein (from the protein shakes) as you’re doctor recommends then you shouldn’t be uncomfortably hungry.
Comment from Shanda
Time: February 19, 2009, 1:27 am
My name is Shanda and I have been thinking about having the lapband done to me, cause I am 34 yrs.old with plenty of health problems and I weigh about 330 lbs. now and I have 2 beautiful kids and I have tried everything to lose weight and nothing has worked for me.. I am just confused..I am so scared of leaving my kids behide.I am all they have..I just contiue to pray to GOD..I am thinking of Oxford Ms.Life is so precious to me..I have heart trouble,sleep anea,sugar,high blood pressure,asthma,all this sickness from my mom side and I caught it all.My mom died 5yrs.ago with cancer and my kids are still confused from that.they are scared for me..Lord I need help bad..I pray every day and night that god will wake me up to my kids..daughter is 14yrs.old son is 7 yrs.old..I am so lost…I just have to cry..my doctors recommand that I do the lapband,which I don’t know but time is contiue to roll pass me…someone help me..god has blessed me and me kids…I am a single parent,me and my kids live alone..I am so scared for myself, something has to give..my kids are my life..what am I to do,I am so confused..I am scared to go to sleep at night,but I still contiue to pray to god..please respond soon..thanks whom every read this..email me very soon.Sincerly, Confused & Scared!!!
Comment from Manon
Time: April 10, 2009, 12:43 pm
My sister-in-law had the lap band done about a year ago, and she lost over 100 pounds and feels great. However, she vomits on nearly a daily basis and often has some chest pain. She was never an active person, and still has not made an effort to exercise. I can’t see this as being permanent because underlying behaviors are not addressed: why you eat (emotional eating) and why you don’t exercise. Being healthy is not just losing weight. I don’t think she will keep this off, and wonder what she’s doing to her esophagus by throwing up every day. Can’t be a good thing.
People, get up and walk every day, eat one less thing and cut out sodas. Do it yourself, do it for yourself, don’t have surgery to do what you can do yourself. That’s my opinion anyway.
Comment from Inara
Time: May 2, 2009, 10:30 pm
I am 22 years old, 255 LBS. The tag on my pants has been above 10 sense I was 10. My Twin sister is tall, leggy, and 130 LBS. Perfect Skin, Perfect husband. Everyone in High School loved her. At out gradation party, there were quite a few confused faces. It seems no one knew I attended our school, unless you count the time my pants split open in gym class.
I am going to talk to my Doc. Tuesday about the Lap Band. I have tried every diet, fitness, and magic pill out there. Nothing has worked. I have high blood pressure, sleep apnia, sore joints and 4 chins. I have looked at every site I can find, I have read all the facts. That I want to know is what it feels like. Can you feel the port? What does it feel like on your stoma? Can you feel it tighten when you have adjustments?How long did it take YOU to heal? How did people treat you after? Did your Family suport you? What is the emotional effect of the surgery? Were you afraid before you had the surgery? Have you ever regreted it?
Comment from Julia
Time: June 2, 2009, 11:14 am
I’m scheduled for Lap-band on 06/24 and I am very aware, as are most people, of the complications that ‘may’ occur during this & ANY surgery. However, what some people may not know or understand about most obesity cases is WLS is a last resort and NOT having it could very well be a death sentence. At the very least an obese person will simply exist, not really live, with a multitude of ailments. That doesn’t mean they won’t have happy times but dealing with the ailments will take toll on them mentally & physically.
I have always been ‘big-boned’ but very active. I took on a position at work that entailed MANY more hours than I was accustomed to and most of those hours required me to sit for 7+ hours at a time. Due to this and genetics, I developed diabetes, High BP, sleep apnea and a few other illnesses. Some of the medications for these caused rapid weight gain and on a visit to my Endocrinologist he stated “Diabetes is taking over your body.” All of my doctors are in favor of me having the WLS.
So, to everyone who thinks the only thing that needs to happen is ‘more exercise’, ‘less eating’ - It’s not that cut and dry. There are many more factors than most people know about until they live it.
Comment from Dana Nelson
Time: June 3, 2009, 10:40 pm
I have had lapband surgery at age 22. I started losing weight a few months following my surgery. I losed over 100 pounds. Then when I found out my band had slipped I had to go back into surgery and found out I was pregnant. I did gain a lot of weight but not were I was before. I had a mind set that I was going to lose this weight with or without the band. I do not have insurance and cannot afford to replace my band. I am proud to say I went from 200lbs after my pregnancy to 147 pounds and I feel better than ever, even after my surgery. I just want to stress the importance of the mind set to losing the weight. Lap band did change my life and it is a great procedure, but it does take the dedication on your part. I want everyone who reads this to know that it is a great procedure but you have to do your part to eat right and exercise.
Comment from Mary
Time: July 14, 2009, 10:08 pm
My sister was overweight ever since we were kids. Seems she was just born that way. She had some kind of lap band surgery a few years ago. For the 1st time in her life she is a smaller size than me (She was a size 12 after surgery but is now stable at a size 14; while I have slowly climbed to a size 18.) She looks awesome & I am so happy for her. Find a reputable Dr., a support group at church & just get it done. Give your worries to God & He will give you peace. (Phillipians 4:7)
Comment from Rachel
Time: September 7, 2009, 12:21 pm
This question is for anyone who has gotten lapband…. I am currently in the process of getting lapband surgery. I am 31 and am planning to have a baby within a year. Has anyone here gotten lapband done and then had children? were there complications?
Comment from Lenora
Time: December 4, 2009, 8:21 am
I’m Thinking about having the lapband done i do go to gym three times a week with my trainer, the other days i walk two miles a day. i’m 5′0,250lb,56yrs.old i been this size for five years.i am the mother of four sons an have the best husband any wife could dream of. my husband just want me to be in better health but i want my health an also look better. does my age play a part in having this surgery done. i also taking diet pills that did’nt help.i don’t over eat i just can’t lose weight. a housewife who has a good life. ps. over weight.
Comment from susie
Time: December 15, 2009, 2:18 am
why would you get the lap band if you just plan on having kids and getting fat in a year anyways? Why not wait till after you pop the pups then have the lap band if you want it so bad?
Comment from Elizabeth
Time: January 12, 2010, 1:48 pm
I hear alot of stories about people getting the lap band and getting physically sick everyday. The reason why they get sick is because they were not taught the proper way to eat after the surgury, dont take my word for it because I am not a doctor, I am just a well informed person about the Lap Band because I did my reasearch. People are asking so many questions, my advice to you is to go to the actual Lap Band website and to not come to this website. The website is such a great tool, it is changing my life. You can enter all of your information and they tell you what to do. If your thinking about having the lap band, dont listen to these stories, some of them are people that are just misinformed. After the surgury you must be mentally prepared, you cant just eat whatever you want and be full, it doesnt work like that. Get informed you’ll be much happier!
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