More and more people are opting for the lapband procedure for WLS. Most believe it will eliminate the nutritional complications associated with the malabsorption procedures like RNY. They are also under the mistaken assumption that there are fewer complications with this procedure.
Junkfood Science shows us the dark side of this popular procedure.
It is widely perceived, and widely marketed, that lap bands are completely safe, reversible and result in few complications. The reality, which sadly most patients like this young mother only come to realize after their surgeries, is that the complications far exceed what most people believe. Even the clinical trials for FDA approval of the band, conducted under ideal situations, encountered high rates of complications. In just the first 3 years post-op, Lap Band reported 89% had one or more adverse events, ranging from mild, moderate, to severe. The most common were:
· vomiting (experienced by over half)
· gastroesophageal reflux (regurgitation)
· band slippage/pouch dilatation and stoma obstruction (stomach-band outlet blockage)
· esophageal dilatation or dysmotility (the long-term effects of dysfunctioning esophagus are currently unknown)
· constipation, diarrhea
· dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
As Lap Band reported, in their study, 25% of the patients had their bands removed during their 3-year follow-up, most after adverse events. Another one in ten needed a second surgery to fix a problem.
Not all it's cracked up to be is it....but this just a sampling of the info in this post...head over there and check out the rest...you might just think twice about undergoing this procedure at all.
While you are there, read over more of the posts concerning WLS. It tells you the things the bariatric centers and the WLS support forums don't.
More and more people are opting for the lapband procedure for WLS. Most believe it will eliminate the nutritional complications associated with the malabsorption procedures like RNY. They are also under the mistaken assumption that there are fewer complications with this procedure.
Junkfood Science shows us the dark side of this popular procedure.
Junkfood Science: They didn’t want the surgery, but believed it was their only chance to live
Not all it's cracked up to be is it....but this just a sampling of the info in this post...head over there and check out the rest...you might just think twice about undergoing this procedure at all.
While you are there, read over more of the posts concerning WLS. It tells you the things the bariatric centers and the WLS support forums don't.