Risks of Stomach Band Surgery

You may be contemplating having surgery done in an effort to lose weight. While stomach band surgery (also known as lap-band surgery) is widely accepted and performed today, there are some real risks involved with the procedure. Knowing what these risks are will help you make an informed decision about whether you should have the surgery performed. As with any surgery, there are always certain risks associated with the procedure. Death is always a possibility, especially for people who are morbidly obese. The operation itself poses certain risks as does the anesthetic used. Even during the recovery period, there are several things that can go wrong.

One of the most dangerous risks of this surgery is that your stomach wall is torn (called a gastric perforation). If this happens after surgery, you will be required to have additional surgery to correct it. While this is a very rare occurrence, it does happen to about 1% of lap-band surgery patients. Other risks associated with the surgery increase depending on the person's age, his overall health condition and the amount of excess weight he has. Additional risks include the medications used during and after surgery and your body's ability to accept a foreign object that is implanted into it.

Even after surgery, you run the risk of experiencing certain complications. A large percentage of post-operative lap-band surgery patients have some type of adverse reaction (mild to severe) during their recovery time. You may have some vomiting and nausea during recovery and even experience some regurgitation episodes. Other more significant side-effects are slippage of the band itself and blockage to the lap-band outlet. As a lap-band patient, you likely will have bouts of constipation and/or diarrhea and may even find it difficult to swallow certain foods.

Some of the side-effects that you may have are uncomfortable but not necessarily serious. Your esophagus and stomach may become inflamed and you might develop a hiatal hernia. You also might have reoccurring stomach pain, certain infections and gas and belching episodes. Some patients report that they feel odd sensations in their abdomens and often experience abdominal rashes. Most of these adverse conditions can be treated by your surgeon and do not require additional surgery.

The risks associated with stomach band surgery need to be looked at seriously if you are going to have the surgery performed. Remember that this type of surgery is designed to help you lose weight slowly. Your surgeon will avoid tightening the band to quickly in an effort to decrease the side-effects and risks involved. You also will be given advice on the type of food to eat and how to watch for any adverse reactions.