Lap Band Surgery Side Effects

Lap band surgery is a type of weight loss surgery for severe and morbid obesity. Though many people can maintain an ideal body weight with the help of a well-balanced diet and exercise programs, some fail to do so even after trying hard. Many such individuals opt for gastric bypass surgery and other types of weight loss surgeries. Compared to many other types of surgical procedures, it is a less invasive method for weight reduction. Basically, this surgery alters the anatomy of the stomach, in order to reduce the intake of food and promote weight loss. However, a few side effects can be experienced after this surgery.

Lap Band Surgery: An Overview

Lap band is an adjustable gastric band, usually an inflatable silicone belt or collar that is placed on the upper part of the stomach. This in turn, creates a small pouch in the upper part of the stomach with an adjustable stoma. The belt or lap band can be tightened or loosened and can also be reversed, if required. The result of the lap band procedure is that a smaller part of the stomach would be above the gastric band, while the larger part will lie below the band. The smaller part of the stomach above the band can hold about half to one cup of food, while the normal holding capacity of the stomach is almost six cups of food.

Therefore, an individual feels full after consuming a very small quantity of food after this surgery. Moreover, foods from the smaller part of the stomach move to the bigger part much slowly. This helps to prolong the period of fullness, or in other words, it helps to reduce hunger. The band can be adjusted, i.e. tightened or loosened by filling or emptying the port with saline solution. The port is usually placed just under the skin in the stomach wall. This obesity surgery is often performed laparoscopically under general anesthesia, though in certain circumstances open surgery is also performed.

Lap Band Surgery Complications

Its main advantage is that, it is fully reversible, and does not require to cut the stomach. It also does not require stapling and bypassing. But, like other surgical procedures, it too can give rise to a few complications. The side effects of this obesity surgery can vary from person to person. One of the most common side effects that can be encountered after this weight loss surgery is vomiting. Vomiting after the surgery is usually caused by eating or drinking too quickly, eating large chunk of food and overeating. Vomiting can sometimes lead to lap band slippage.

Apart from vomiting, one can also experience dehydration, difficulty in swallowing, gastroesophageal reflux, bloating and gas, erosion of band into the stomach, gastritis, constipation and stoma obstruction. Occasionally, problems like, ulceration, formation of gallstones, enlargement of the stomach pouch, infection and gastric performation or tearing of the stomach wall can also occur after the surgery. However, lap band surgery can be reversed, if the side effects appear to be very severe. Moreover, the risks involved with this surgery are comparatively less than the risks associated with the other types of bariatric weight loss surgeries.

These side effects can be controlled or managed with a few changes in eating habits and adjusting the band. To avoid the complications, it is important to follow the instructions given by your physician about post surgery care. It is equally important to evaluate the various pros and cons of different weight reduction surgeries, before making a concrete decision. However, lap band surgery is not for everyone who wants to lose weight. People with a BMI (body mass index) more than 40 are usually considered as the candidates for it. However, people with inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as those with heart and lung disease and any defects of the esophagus, stomach and intestine may not be able to undergo this surgery.