What are the dangers of lapband surgery?!

What are the dangers of lapband surgery?

What Can You Expect Following Lap Band Surgery?

For those desperate people whose weight is dangerously out of control and have exhausted every conceivable option - diet, exercise, pills - there has, in recent years appeared a ray of hope. That glimmer has shined in the form of gastric surgery. Technology continues to evolve and the dangers associated with these procedures have been drastically reduced. Now with the introduction of Lap Band surgery, there are fewer complications than ever before.

Commonly referred to as gastric banding, this operation literally places a band around the upper stomach, creating a small pocket. The objective is the same as with traditional stomach stapling, to make the stomach smaller so that less food is needed to produce a full feeling, fewer calories are consumed and ultimately weight is lost. But Lap Band surgery is a newer, less invasive alternative to the conventional method.

So what exactly can be expected after Lap Band surgery? Patients can be discharged within 24-48 hours and are encouraged to move and start walking as soon as possible. Of course, some discomfort and fatigue will be likely, but under normal conditions, patients can assume regular functions within a week. Although the procedure is fairly safe, some common, and even uncommon complications may arise: infection, bleeding, slippage of the band, pouch enlargement and food intolerance. In rare instances, death is a possibility.

The key to success is following the required diet, not only post-surgery but in the coming months and years. Stage one of the diet consists of clear liquids for three to four days, followed a modified liquid diet that includes protein shakes or Jell-O. Then the diet will consist of shredded or blended foods. Realistically, a patient's diet won't ever be the same. Certain foods, such as steak, fried foods, and citrus fruits, may never be well tolerated. As evidenced by the strict diet, Lap Band surgery is no miracle cure and takes discipline and effort. However, armed with a more manageable appetite, an obese person is better equipped to face the challenge.

There is another extremely important element that should be considered following Lap Band surgery - emotional factors. A surgery involving the stomach can't possibly be expected to repair the troubled inner mentality that has driven this behavior for so many years. Patients should strongly consider consulting with a specialist to confront these issues.

The highest expectation following surgery is, obviously, weight loss. Research has indicated that studied subjects lost 40% to 60% of excess weight in a three-year period. Nevertheless, maintaining the loss means strict adherence to the outlined diet, since overindulging will lead to weight gain. People who have received Lap Band surgery cannot become complacent and take their new weight for granted.

Lap Band surgery offers new hope to people who have long suffered and struggled with the scale. While there are some clear advantages to gastric banding, it is still a serious operation and complications can, and do, occur. Therefore, it should exist as a last resort for the dangerously obese only.

Good luck as I am still deciding whether I should have it myself but deep down I know I have little choice.