7 Lap Band Issues That A Lap Band Revision Can Address

Lap band surgery was once a popular weight management procedure, but it has gone out of popularity in recent years because of the risks that might occur. Lap band revision surgery can assist to resolve these difficulties.

What is Lap Band Surgery?

Laparoscopic gastric band surgery, often known as lap band surgery, includes the implantation of an implant around the stomach. The inflatable gastric band constricts the stomach opening, causing the person to feel fuller sooner and potentially aiding in weight loss.

While this procedure has had some successes, the results have been variable, and many patients have had problems. This has resulted in a gradual fall in the number of lap band procedures performed.

7 Lap Band Surgery Issues

There are several risks that might arise with gastric band surgery, including band slippage, band erosion, and digestive issues. These difficulties are fairly prevalent, as demonstrated by an eight-year study in which more than 33% of patients suffered late sequelae. The most notable complications that can occur are as follows.

1. Nausea and Vomiting

For some patients, the gastric band may cause nausea and vomiting. In some circumstances, patients may vomit many times each day due to implant sensitivity.

2. Difficult Swallowing

Lap band intolerance can also cause trouble swallowing, known as dysphagia. The gastric band is designed to restrict food intake through the stomach's aperture, which may cause dysphagia in some patients.

3. Acid reflux

If the band is overly tight or has fallen out of place, it may cause acid reflux and heartburn. Mild regurgitation can also occur. Deflating the band can help with this issue, but if reflux symptoms do not improve, lap band revision surgery may be required.

Over time, acid reflux can cause esophagitis, which is inflammation and tissue destruction in the esophagus.

4. Esophageal Dilatation

Esophageal dilatation might cause esophageal damage as well. If food cannot move down the esophagus properly, the buildup can stretch the tissue, perhaps causing long-term harm. Esophageal dilatation may also affect weight loss, particularly in the later phases. 

Revision surgery has been shown to correct this condition and allow patients to resume weight loss as planned.

5. Band Slippage

Gastric band slippage is possible, however rare. Over time, the lap band may slip down the stomach, forming a pouch above the band and potentially causing significant pain and nausea. Deflating the band may assist to resolve this condition, but in severe cases, band removal may be required.

6. Band Erosion

In extremely rare circumstances (less than 1%), the band may deteriorate. If left untreated, the band will degenerate and get infected, resulting in severe consequences down the line. The port used to inflate and deflate the band may also get contaminated, needing removal.

7. Poor Weight Loss Results

Finally, poor weight reduction results may indicate that lap band revision surgery is the best option. This is fairly common—one study revealed that approximately 31% of patients did not achieve acceptable weight loss following gastric band surgery.

Poor results may be caused by other difficulties or complications with the band, and weight is sometimes recovered long after lap band surgery. This type of surgery is more likely to result in weight regain than gastric bypass or gastric sleeve patients, making it less trustworthy in terms of long-term outcomes.

Potential Advantages of Lap Band Revision Surgery

Lap band revision surgery can help alleviate the following issues by addressing the underlying cause - the gastric band itself. 

Slippage can be rectified or the band modified, but sometimes the best option is to remove the band entirely. Laparoscopic gastric band removal can help with digestive or esophageal difficulties that can emerge after lap band surgery, but it may not address unsatisfactory weight reduction results on its own.