LAP-BAND® Surgery is the safest, least invasive weight loss procedure in use today. The morbidity rate for this procedure is just 1 in 2000 compared, for example, to the rate of 1 in 250 for Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. LAP-BAND® patients heal faster, recover more quickly, experience less pain, and leave the hospital sooner than patients undergoing other weight-loss procedures.

The adjustable gastric band can be modified without additional surgery, and the procedure is fully reversible -- the stomach returns to normal if it is removed. LAP-BAND® surgery involves no cutting or stapling of the stomach and no bypassing of the intestines. It does not cause malnutrition as with malabsorptive procedures and does not cause dumping syndrome as with gastric bypass surgery.

High blood pressure is cured or improved in 78% of patients who lose a significant amount of weight after weight loss surgery. Along with post-surgical weight loss, many patients also see great improvement in other co-morbidities such as pain from arthritis, the discomfort of sleep apnea, and illnesses such as diabetes.

To Discuss With Your Surgeon

Any surgical procedure carries certain risks including an adverse reaction to anesthesia and medications; bleeding; death; dehydration; diarrhea; heart attack; infection; injury to surrounding organs; lung problems (such as pneumonia and pulmonary embolism); nausea; pain; stroke; thrombosis (blood clots); and vomiting. These general risks are present whenever a patient undergoes major surgery and should be considered carefully with your doctor before deciding to proceed with gastric band surgery.

The type of expected risks and complications will also vary depending on whether the surgery is performed using open or laparoscopic (non-invasive) methods. Although most gastric banding procedures are performed laparoscopically, the surgeon may need to switch to open surgery after the procedure has begun due to complications. Conversion from laparoscopic to open surgery occurs in about 5% of LAP-BAND® patients.

Some potential problems specific to gastric band surgery include:

• Band problems (erosion, slippage, leakage)
• Esophagitis (inflammation, irritation, or swelling of the esophagus)
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Port problems (displacement, leakage, port-site infection)
• Stoma blockage
• Stomach problems (pouch enlargement, slippage)
• Tubing problems (disconnection from port, leakage)