Weighing the Risks of Lap Band Surgery
Are you overweight and considering lap band surgery, it will not be long before you will be thinking about the complications of gastric bypass surgery. LIke any surgery, it is not wihtout is risks, even though it will change your life drastically. The dangers of being overweight also have to be taken into consideration. Does being obese or having weight loss surgery present a greater risk? This was a big fator in my decision.
The lap band surgery is the least invasive of all the bariatric surgeries, but you still run the chance of bleeding and infection, that can be experienced with any surgery. Band slippage is one of the biggest risks of lap band surgery and can usually be fixed laparoscopically. On rare occasions, the band may erode inside the stomach.
Some other risks that are specifically related to the lap band are:
• The band can spontaneously deflate because of leakage. The tubing, resevoir or the connection between the two can be a site of leakage.
• The stomach pouch can enlarge.
• The stoma (stomach outlet) can be blocked.
The risks associated with obesity will increase if nothing is done to reverse them. You have to decide whether you are willing to risk the complications of gastric bypass surgery or continuing to live with obesity related conditions. YOu can always use a traditional weight loss method, but the reason that lap bad surgery is often chosen is due to the high number of previous weight loss failures.
You do have options. It is a matter of deciding what is important to you and what concessions you are willing to make to get what you want. Because this surgery is a tool and not a miracle, you are in control of the results. Lap band surgery can give you a whole new way of living with elimnated or reduction in obesity related medical conditions.
