Lap Band Surgery: Cost and Risks

Lap-Band surgery is a type of bariatric weight loss surgery, which is designed in the same way as gastric bypass surgery. People who are obese, having a body mass index (BMI) of more than 40 and those of age group 35 to 40 with co-morbidities (presence of one or more diseases) usually prefer to undergo lap band surgery. In Lap-Band surgery, the anatomy of the stomach is altered in such a way that it helps in reducing intake of food. It is also called as Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding Procedure.

Lap Band Surgery

In 2001, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has approved the use of "Lap-Band System", an adjustable gastric band, for lap band surgery. Prior to the procedure, certain screenings and tests such as gastroscopy, blood tests and imaging studies are done to determine safety of the procedure. In lap band surgery procedure, three to five small incisions of about 1 inch are made in the abdomen and the gastric band is introduced in the upper part of stomach. The main objective is to create a small pouch of about 15cc in stomach with a narrow passage (stoma) to the remaining larger stomach for reducing functional capacity of the stomach.

Usually, lap band surgery takes around 45 minutes to 1 hour and is performed under general anesthesia in a hospital operating room. The resulting small stomach helps in controlling hunger and ultimately, the person feels satiated after a small serving. The band is connected to an access port placed under skin, which enables to inflate or deflate the band for adjusting the expected pace of weight loss. For narrowing the stoma, the physician injects saline into the access port allowing the band to enlarge. The amount of saline to be injected depends upon the patient's condition. The patient can be discharged the same day; however, full recovery takes about four to six weeks.

There are certain advantages of lap band surgery over any other weight loss surgery. One of the important advantages of lap band surgery is that there is no cutting or stapling of the stomach, thus reducing the risk of anastomotic leak at the staple site. Also, the procedure is reversible and can be removed by performing a small laparoscopic surgery. It has also been observed that there is no dumping syndrome (nausea, stomach cramps, diarrhea) in case of lap band surgery.

Lap Band Surgery: Cost

One of the important considerations before going for lap band surgery is its overall cost. Cost includes preoperative cost, surgeon fees, hospital charges, medicine costs and other surgery fees. It is also important to consider the postoperative care such as psychological and nutritional counseling and regular follow-ups. Cost may vary depending upon the surgeon and where it has been carried out. Usually, the cost of lap band surgery in US comes to around $17,000 to $30,000. It is found to be much cheaper (about $15,000) in Australia, Europe, Mexico and India.

Regarding insurance cover, it depends on the scheme of the plan and the insurance company. It is advisable to contact the insurance company and discuss about the coverage before doing lap band surgery.

Lap Band Surgery: Risks

In spite of the fact that lap band surgery has fewer complications as compared to other weight loss surgery; there are certain mild to severe risks associated with lap band surgery procedure. One of the important risks is gastric perforation, which is due to a tear in the walls of the stomach during the procedure. There is also a chance for slippage of the band and leakage of the port that should be corrected as soon as possible. Vomiting of the swallowed food from the upper stomach is a common problem observed among people who have undergone lap band surgery. It is advisable to eat slowly and chew more to avoid from this complication. Other complications include blockage of the passage, gastric ulcer, infection, diarrhea, chest pain, constipation and heartburn.

One should consult and seek guidance from the concerned physician about advantages and risks of lap band surgery before going for the same. It is advisable to exercise and follow certain diets to get maximum benefits of lap band surgery. It is important that the patient should get psychological support from the near and dear ones. One can also refer psychologists for proper counseling.