LAP-BAND ® is a weight loss surgery that will give results in time; this surgery is recommended for people that have to lose at least 100 pounds. Even if the procedure is much safer than other weight loss surgeries, such as gastric bypass, there are also a fewLAP-BAND ® risks that you should be aware of prior to getting the surgery. LAP BAND is linked to some specific risks and may also carry the risks associated with a surgery. The risks may depend also on your age, weight, health condition or the presence of a certain disease.
Here are 9 possible LAP-BAND ® risks:
1. Gastric Perforation
LAP-BAND ® is a surgery that involves reducing the size of the stomach and applying a constrictive band around the stomach to allow you to eat less amounts of food.
During the surgery, there is the risk of gastric perforation; however, this doesn’t happen if the surgeon has experience in LAP-BAND ® surgeries.
2. Infection of Incision Sites
Being a surgery, LAP-BAND ® presents the risk of infection. The incision wounds may get infected. The infection symptoms include fever, painful incision area and pus. Intravenous antibiotics can fight the infection.
However, your surgeon will recommend the administration of antibiotics at least 24 hours prior to the surgery and up to 8 days after the surgery.
3. Blood Clotting
During the LAP-BAND ® surgery, there is the risk that you develop blood clots, which can be dangerous and may cause embolism, which is a fatal condition. For this reason, the surgeon will make sure to administer some blood thinners.
4. Hernia
The LAP-BAND ® surgery may cause hernias after the surgery; less than 10% of patients develop hernias and these should be removed surgically.
5. Stomach Cramps
Depending on your diet, you may develop stomach cramps; avoid eating deep fried foods and opt for a diet that is low in carbohydrates to reduce the risk of stomach cramps. Talk to your nutritionist to recommend you a suitable diet.
6. Nutrient Deficiency
Having a smaller stomach, you will only be able to eat a reduced amount of food, and this may result in an unbalanced diet that may be poor in nutrients. This may also lead to anemia.
You may opt for a few vitamins and supplements to make sure you get the essential nutrients in your diet.
7. Gallstones
After the LAP-BAND ® surgery, some patients may develop gallstones; the formation of gallstones is linked to a diet that is high in cholesterol, which will be deposited in the gall bladder.
8. Erosion of the Band
The LAP-BAND ® surgery carries also the risk of the erosion of the band, which may lead to a leakage of the stomach’s contents into the abdominal cavity. This risk is rare.
9. Death
Even if this risk is less than 1%, the risk of death during or after a LAP-BAND ® surgery exists. It is important to choose an experienced surgeon that will perform all the needed tests to ensure that the surgery may be performed without any major risks.
