Lap band surgery doesn’t have the surgical risks or long term side effects of gastric bypass, and it’s reversible and removable. As with any surgery, however, there are issues to be aware of before signing up for the procedure.
Cost of Lap Band Surgery and Insurance Options
Lap band surgery is expensive; the cost in 2010 is between $17,000 and $30,000, according to Dr. Tim Ehrlich, director of bariatric surgery at St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport, Conn. Lap band surgery may be covered by insurance, if the individual is morbidly obese with a BMI of 40 or over.
Insurance may pay if the person has other diseases that may be worsened by obesity, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol.
Laparoscopic Surgical Banding Procedure
The incisions made to place the lap band are very small. This decreases the risk of infection and the amount of blood loss, and also results in much less pain after the procedure, according to the University of Michigan Medical School.
A port is placed right under the skin in the abdomen near the navel; this is accessed to fill the band’s inner tube to tighten the band or to withdraw fluid to loosen it. Lap band surgery is done under general anesthesia, which carries a small risk of complications such as aspiration.
The mortality rate for lap band surgery is approximately 1 in 2,500, compared to 1 in 250 for gastric bypass.
Recovery from Lap Band Surgery; Return to Work
The hospital recovery period is usually less than three days; people undergoing gastric bypass are usually hospitalized for three to five days. Most people can return to work within a week, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Mild nausea and vomiting may occur after surgery.
Weight Loss Results From Lap Band Bariatric Surgery
After a four-year period, the weight loss results between gastric bypass and lap band surgery are similar. Approximately 40 to 50 percent of extra weight will be lost during the first two years, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Benefits of Lap Band Over Gastric Bypass After Surgery
Gastric bypass patients may develop dumping syndrome, severe diarrhea caused by the loss of part of the intestine which results in a decreased absorption area for food and nutrients. No part of the intestine is removed in lap band surgery; the band is placed around the stomach and can be loosened, tightened or removed at any time.
Dietary Restrictions After Gastric Banding for First Six Weeks
There are significant dietary restrictions for the first month to six weeks after surgery; diet starts with liquids, then progresses to pureed and soft foods before solid food is allowed.
Band adjustments also need to be done periodically, to keep too much or too little weight from being lost, and also to adjust the band to the shrinking stomach after the swelling of surgery subsides.
Complications After Lap Band Surgery
The band around the stomach has an inner tube filled with saline. If the tube leaks, the band won’t be tight, and no weight will be lost. It may also migrate if it’s too loose and need to be removed. The band can slip above the stomach and need to be surgically removed. The band can also erode into the stomach or esophagus.
Choosing Lap Band Surgery to Lose Weight in Cases of Morbid Obesity
Lap band surgery has proven to be both safe and effective in treating morbid obesity. complications are rare and less severe than those that occur with gastric bypass, and insurance is now paying for the surgery in patient's with proven medical necessity.
Sources
Consumer Guide to Bariatric Surgery; Tim Ehrlich, M.D.
Cleveland Clinic: Lap Band
University of Michigan Health Services: Lap Band
Sharon Perkins - Sharon is an RN with over 20 years experience in maternal child health, oncology, and ophthalmology. She was the RN coordinator for an ...
Join the Conversation