Lap Band up Close

Along with the standard risks of most procedures, including bleeding and infection, there are complications specific to Lap Band surgery.

While laparoscopic surgery is the chosen method of most surgeons, one’s lap band surgeon may need to work in the operating room with an "open" method. This took place in about 5% of the cases, according to a U.S. clinical study.

Problems that can occur as a direct result of the Lap Band system include:

* Slippage of the band: This happening can occur as weight loss takes place over time. When the stomach moves above the band, heartburn and vomiting may happen. In order to correct this problem, a Lap Band surgeon will conduct a laparoscopic procedure to reinforce the band;

* Erosion of band: Some Lap Band patients may have a case where the band can erode into the inside of the stomach;

* Deflation of the band: If the Lap Band begins to leak, it can deflate on the band, the port, or the tube joining the two. If that happens, the result is the stomach pouch can gain in size, negating the purpose of having the pouch in the first place;

* Blockage of the stoma: The narrow passage can become blocked from time to time as a result of being too narrow.

Other risk factors for Lap Band patients to think about when they sit down with their Lap Band surgeon include:

* Age of the patient;

* Excess weight;

* Medications and methods used in the operation;

* Chance one’s body will not react well to the implanting of a foreign object;