Lap
Band
Surgery
Risks
Pro and Cons of
Weight Loss Surgery
Weight loss surgery
isn’t a cure for
obesity, but it can
provide the
assistance you need
to develop a
healthier lifestyle
if other weight loss
options haven't been
successful.
Statistics have
shown that lap band
surgery can help
patients lose up to
90 percent of their
excess body weight.
The procedure works
by limiting food
intake and
suppressing
appetite.
If you suffer from
an obesity-related
medical condition,
you may be able to
greatly improve your
physical health by
having gastric
bypass surgery.
After the procedure,
nearly 80 percent of
patients with
hypertension and 90
percent of patients
with diabetes no
longer need to take
their medication.
People with
conditions such as
asthma, arthritis,
and sleep apnea also
see an improvement
in their well-being
after surgery. A
qualified bariatric
surgeon can evaluate
your medical history
to see if you would
benefit from
gastric surgery.
As with any other
medical procedure,
you must consider
the pro and cons of
lap band surgery
before making your
decision. About one
in 300 people die
from lap band
surgery. This is a
less than one
percent risk, but it
is still an
important
consideration. Only
you can decide if
the potential
rewards outweigh the
risks of surgery.
Failure to lose
weight is the most
common complication
from lap band
surgery. However,
this is most often
attributed to the
patient's inability
or unwillingness to
make the necessary
lifestyle
modifications. For
example, patients
who consume
milkshakes and other
high calorie liquids
or persist in
snacking between
meals often fail to
see a significant
weight loss after
the procedure.
Advantages
-
Lowest
mortality rate
-
Least invasive
surgical
approach
-
No stomach
stapling or
cutting, or
intestinal
re-routing
-
Adjustable
-
Reversible
-
Lowest
operative
complication
rate
-
Low
malnutrition
risk
Disadvantages
-
Slower initial
weight loss
than Gastric
Bypass or BPD
-
Regular
follow-up
critical for
optimal results
-
Requires an
implanted
medical device
-
In some cases,
effectiveness
can be reduced
due to band
slippage
-
In some cases,
the access port
may leak and
require minor
revisional
surgery
Other than the
general risks of
surgery, there is a
chance the band will
slip out of place or
erode into the
stomach wall.
Doctors say these
complications are
relatively rare and,
most often, can be
fixed
laparoscopically.
Obesity surgery is
only recommended for
patients who are
severely overweight
(have a BMI of 40 or
more), and for those
with a BMI of 35 or
higher who have
serious
weight-related
medical conditions.
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