What are the risks of using the Lap-Band to lose weight?

The Lap-Band is an inflatable band that’s placed around the upper stomach to limit food intake in severely obese individuals. It was approved in 2001 by the FDA because the FDA felt that the benefits outweighed the risks. The benefits to the Lap-Band are that it can be easily adjusted, unlike other surgeries where, when it’s done, it’s done.

And at least it doesn’t cause anal leakage or excessive gambling.

Since I’m a negative nancy, I’m really just going to focus on the risks of the Lap-Band because I think it’s more important to know the risks, since we already know the benefits to having a clamp on your stomach. And after all.. 13 year olds are already getting the surgery done.

• Because the Lap-Band is an implantable device, it does carry a small risk of slippage (causing complete blockage of the gastric pouch) or erosion into the stomach (causing weight loss to stop). In either case, another laparoscopic surgery would be required to re-position or remove the band. [source]
  
• Other technical problems can arise. In a few cases, the tube may kink or the reservoir may twist, which may require minor surgery. [source]
• The Lap-Band is not a perfect solution, and it will not result in weight loss if you start eating an excess amount of chocolate or high-calorie drinks, such as ice cream, milk shakes and soda. [source]
• There are also added risks in any operation for patients who are seriously overweight. Death is one of the risks. It can occur any time during the operation. It can also occur as a result of the operation. Death can occur despite all the precautions that are taken. [source] 
• There is a risk of gastric perforation (a tear in the stomach wall) during or after the procedure that might lead to the need for another surgery. In the U.S. clinical study this happened in 1% of the patients. [source]
  
  
• In the United States clinical study, with 3-year follow-up reported, 88% of the 299 patients had one or more adverse events, ranging from mild, moderate, to severe. [source] 
• Nausea and vomiting (51%)
• Gastroesophageal reflux (regurgitation) (34%)
• Band slippage/pouch dilatation (24%)
  
• Stoma obstruction (stomach-band outlet blockage)
  
• 25% of the patients had their band systems removed
• Esophageal dilatation or dysmotility (poor esophageal function) occurred in 11% of patients
• Constipation, diarrhea and dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) occurred in 9% of the patients.
  
• In 9% of the patients, a second surgery was needed to fix a problem with the band or initial surgery.
  
• In 9% of the patients, there was an additional procedure to fix a leaking or twisted access port. The access port design has been improved.
  
• Four out of 299 patients (1.3%) had their bands erode into their stomachs. These bands needed to be removed in a second operation. 
• Adverse events that were considered to be non-serious, and which occurred in less than 1% of the patients, included: [source] 
• esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus),
  
• gastritis (inflammation of the stomach),
  
• hiatal and incisional hernias
  
• pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas),
  
• abdominal pain,
  
• infection,
  
• redundant skin,
  
• dehydration,
  
• diarrhea (frequent semi-solid bowel movements),
  
• abnormal stools,
  
• constipation,
  
• flatulence (farts),
  
• dyspepsia (upset stomach),
  
• eructation (burping),
  
• cardiospasm (an obstruction of passage of food through the bottom of the esophagus), hematemsis (vomiting of blood),
  
• asthenia (fatigue),
  
• fever,
  
• chest pain,
  
• incision pain,
  
• contact dermatitis (rash),
  
• abnormal healing,
  
• edema (swelling),
  
• paresthesia (abnormal sensation of burning, prickly, or tingling),
  
• dysmenorrhea (difficult periods),
  
• hypochromic anemia (low oxygen carrying part of blood),
  
• band system leak,
  
• cholecystitis (gall stones),
  
• esophageal ulcer (sore),
  
• port displacement,
  
• port site pain,
  
• spleen injury,
  
• and wound infection.

It’s true, in comparison to the seriously dangerous gastric bypass surgery, the side effects would be considered minimal. It’s 10 times less likely to kill you. SWEET. Also, with the Lap-Band, you can still have children, all they do is deflate the band.

Still interested? Here’s the official Lap-Band site.