Risks and Benefits to the Surgery

Now with every surgery there are risks and benefits. So you must decide whether or not the benefits out weigh the risk. In my case taking 6 different medications, diabetes, high blood pressure and high triglycerides going to 5 different specialist every other month that the benefits very much out weighed the risk. Here are some of the benefits and some of the risks.

Benefits of LAP-BAND surgery:
Losing weight may help you live longer and reduce the chance of serious illnesses.
Your self-esteem may improve as your body changes.
You may feel more confident and willing to try new things.
You should have more energy and find everyday tasks much easier to complete.

Benefits of LAP-BAND surgery over other kinds of weight-loss operations:
Less drastic because stomach and intestines are not cut
If there is a problem, the band can be removed
You may have a shorter recovery time
The band is adjustable

Risks
But LAP-BAND surgery, like any surgery, has some risks. I’m going to go over some of the risks because it's important to understand what's involved. Keep in mind that your weight, age, past surgeries, and other medical conditions can make a difference. And health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and other illnesses can also increase the risk of complications. If you have any questions about how these risks relate to you, please ask your surgeon. Also, there are some unusual risks that will not be covered here. So please do not consider this list complete.

There is a risk the band may slip and need to be repositioned.
For the band to work, it's important that it stays in the correct position. But the band can slip for a number of reasons. If you overeat or don't chew your food well, you can vomit. And if you throw up a lot, your stomach pouch can stretch and the band can slip out of place. If you feel sharp pain in your stomach and you're vomiting after every meal, you need to call your doctor right away. The good news is that most of the time, a slipped band can be fixed. In some cases, when it's caught early, the doctor can remove all the saline from the band and then slowly refill it again. Other times, the band needs to be repositioned with surgery, especially if the slipped band is blocking the stoma. But if the surgeon finds that the band has damaged the stomach, it can’t be repositioned until the stomach has healed.

There is a risk the band can erode, or "wear through," the stomach's wall.
If this happens, another surgery is done to remove it.While it doesn't happen often, there is a risk that the band can erode, or "wear through," the wall of the stomach. If this happens, the band no longer restricts the stomach's size and you won't feel full soon after eating. Erosion can also lead to an infection. If you stop losing weight, or gain weight, it could be a sign that the band has eroded. Band erosion can happen a couple of ways. For instance, medications like aspirin can cause sores in the stomach called "ulcers" to form. Ulcers may cause the band to eat through the stomach's wall. Drinking alcohol in excess may also cause the band to erode. In these rare cases, erosion usually happens in the first year after surgery. To treat this, the band is almost always removed with another surgery.

There is a risk of infection.
In rare cases, more surgery may be needed to treat an infection.There are several types of infections that may occur after surgery: an infection inside the surgical area, a wound infection around the cuts or the port, and a general infection like a urinary infection. While a band infection is very rare, if this happens, the band or the port may have to be removed or replaced. Signs of infections can include fever, chills, swelling, pain that gets worse, redness or fluid on your wound, or painful urination. If you feel any of these things, please call your doctor right away. The infected area may need to be drained. But most of the time, antibiotics can clear up infections. In some cases, you may need to be admitted to a hospital for special treatments.

There is a risk that after surgery, the esophagus (the muscular tube that leads to your stomach) may stretch.
This can cause acid reflux, and the band may have to be adjusted or removed.There is a risk that after surgery, the esophagus may stretch. The esophagus pushes food through when you swallow. So if it becomes stretched, it may cause acid reflux and vomiting. A stretched esophagus can be caused by a number of things: binge eating, a blocked stoma, excessive vomiting, an improperly placed band, or a band that's too tight can all lead to stretching. If this occurs, the band may have to be removed with another surgery.

There is a risk of injury to the intestines, the liver, or other organs, which may require more surgery.
While injury to the surrounding organs is rare, it's slightly more common in laparoscopic procedures because the surgeon is operating in a small space through small openings. An injury can lead to a severe infection, excessive bleeding, or long-term problems with liver or bowel function. More surgery may be needed to repair any injuries.

It is possible that your surgeon may need to switch to an open procedure during surgery.
Your surgeon may discover during the operation that for the best result, he needs to switch to an open approach. This means that larger cuts are made and more of the belly is exposed. For example, an open procedure may be needed because bleeding has made it difficult for your surgeon to view the area with the scope. If this is done, there is a slightly greater risk of an infection or injury to organs. And because the cut is larger, your recovery time will be longer as well. Again, your surgeon will only make the switch to an open operation if it is needed for a more successful surgery.

There is a risk of blood clots that, in rare cases, can be life threatening.Blood clots can form in one or both of your legs during or after surgery.
Rarely, a blood clot can travel to your heart or lungs. This can be very dangerous and can even result in death. The key to prevention is to keep blood flowing. So to help prevent clots, your surgeon may use things like compression boots or TED® support hose. Signs of blood clots include sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, and a great deal of painful swelling in one or both of your legs. If you have any of these signs, call your surgeon, or get emergency help, right away.

There is a risk of bad or allergic reactions to the anesthesia or medications that are used.
In unusual cases, you can die from these reactions.You may have a reaction to the anesthesia or medications used during or after surgery. Signs of bad reactions can vary. You may have a minor reaction like a rash. Or you may have more serious symptoms like dizziness, trouble breathing, or a swollen tongue or lips. If you feel any of these things, stop your medications and contact your doctor, or get emergency help right away. An allergic reaction can be very serious, and in rare cases, people can die. Please tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction to anything. Also tell your doctor if you, or anyone in your family, has ever had a bad reaction to anesthesia.

There is a risk of bleeding both during and after surgery.
In some cases, more surgery is needed to treat it.As with any surgery, there is a risk of bleeding during and after the operation. In most cases, your surgeon will be able to control any bleeding during surgery. In very rare cases, you may experience bleeding in the days after surgery. If this happens, there’s a chance you may need to go back into the hospital for more surgery to treat the problem.

There is a risk of dehydration, anemia, or malnutrition.
Making sure that you're getting enough water and nutrients like iron and protein is very important after surgery. If your body isn't getting what it needs, you may need to return to the hospital for treatment for a few days. If you have excessive bleeding after surgery or if you're not getting enough iron in your diet, you may become anemic. This means you have fewer red blood cells, and it may make you feel tired and look pale. If you're severely anemic you may need a blood transfusion. And to avoid dehydration, slowly sip water between meals and stay away from alcohol. If you drink alcohol, do it in moderation. The best thing to do is to follow your dietitian’s instructions on your food and drink plan very carefully.

There is a risk of a stroke, heart attack, or death.
How your body handles surgery depends on what kind of condition your body is in. Your age, the condition of your heart, prior surgeries, and other illnesses can increase the length of surgery or make surgery more complex. It’s important for you to be aware that your weight, and other weight-related illnesses, place you at higher risk for complications during any surgery or recovery period. Therefore, it's possible that you may die during surgery or the recovery period from any of the risks I mentioned earlier, or for other reasons.


But what are your alternatives:
No surgery
Of course, one alternative is to not have surgery and continue trying to lose weight with diet and exercise. But you've probably tried that already and have found that success has only been temporary. So even though NOT losing weight is an option, it's not a healthy one. You're still at a high risk for conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease.

Gastric BypassGastric bypass in another kind of weight-loss surgery.
But unlike a LAP-BAND, which only restricts your stomach, gastric bypass changes its size permanently. The stomach is cut and the intestines are re-routed (or "bypassed"). It can be done with a laparoscope or as an open procedure. Although you may lose weight more quickly with gastric bypass, it is a more radical surgery and more serious complications can arise.

Just some final thoughts losing weight could help save your life. But surgery is the easy part. The real work starts afterward. And it may take a couple of years before you reach your weight loss goal.
Also, the band doesn't make you exercise or commit to your new diet. You are responsible for your weight loss. LAP-BAND surgery just makes it a lot easier.