Lap Band Surgery Risks
There are lap band surgery risks; after all it is surgery, even if it’s less invasive. Know the risks ahead of time, so you can make an informed choice.
Some of the Lap Band Surgery Risks
The first risk is infection. It’s rare these days, especially if you choose a surgeon with a low incidence of post-operative infections.
Another surgery risk that’s harder to predict is a bad reaction to the sedative or anesthesia used. And something that the surgeons tend to gloss over is the lasting effect of anesthesia for several weeks after the surgery.
Death, of course, is the worst risk when it comes to lap band surgery, although the chances are quite small.
To a lesser extent is the possibility of developing a stricture. A stricture means that somewhere between the mouth and the band, the food passageway closes up. A partial stricture is painful; a total stricture is life-threatening.
Something Else You Should Know
In the majority of cases, the lap band has to be adjusted after the surgery. The initial surgery leaves the band fairly loose, and you may still be able to eat large portions. That’s why you need to make some trips to the doctor’s office for adjustments.
And it may take several visits to get the inflation just right. The adjustments are made by injecting or withdrawing a saline solution from the inflatable band.
If the band is too tight, you may get nauseous and not be able to eat; the food backs up into your esophogus.
If the band is too loose, you can eat normal portions, meaning you won’t lose weight.
The cost of your surgery may or may not include these follow-up visits, so you do need to ask how many adjustments are included as part of the surgical bill.