Lap-Band surgery, also known as gastric or adjustable Lap-Band surgery, was once the most popular weight loss surgery in the United States. Now, because of complications and sub-par weight loss results, many bariatric surgeons no longer perform the procedure.
According to one long-term study, more than 70% of patients had their Lap-Band removed, and 63% underwent revision surgery.
At Michael Sutker, MD, in Dallas, Texas, fellowship-trained bariatric surgeon Dr. Michael Sutker can determine if you would benefit from converting your Lap-Band into a gastric sleeve or bypass, two of the most common and effective weight loss surgeries. Read on to learn more about Lap-Band revision surgery.
Lap-Band surgery is an adjustable and reversible weight loss surgery. During this procedure, a surgeon inserts a band around your stomach, creating two sections, without permanently dividing your stomach.
This smaller pouch restricts how much you can eat, retraining you to eat smaller meals and amounts. The band can be adjusted over time. Once the most popular type of weight loss surgeries, Lap-Band surgery now makes up less than 10% of weight loss procedures. Today, gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy are both more popular and more effective.
The reason Lap-Band surgery has been replaced in popularity with other procedures is because of the various complications and weight regain that people face several years after the surgery. Some of the most common complications include band slippage, which requires another surgery to replace or reattach the band, and weight regain.
While most people do lose a considerable amount of weight within the first couple of years after their Lap-Band procedure, weight regain is more common with Lap-Band than it is with gastric bypass surgeries. Additionally, some people develop food intolerance and heartburn, and experience severe nausea and vomiting.
One of the most common reasons people consider converting a Lap-Band into a gastric sleeve or gastric bypass is that they’re not losing enough weight — or they’re regaining too much weight. Another common reason is a diminished quality of life due to infection, heartburn, nausea, or other complications.
While you can remove the Lap-Band to eliminate complications, you will likely regain any lost weight and/or have trouble losing weight. Dr. Sutker has extensive experience with weight loss revisions and conversions and can recommend whether you should convert to a gastric bypass or sleeve after the removal of the Lap-Band.
Whether you opt for removal or conversion, the first step is to remove the Lap-Band. Then, after your body heals and recovers from that surgery, Dr. Sutker can perform a gastric sleeve or bypass surgery. The benefits of converting to a gastric sleeve or bypass include:
If you're not satisfied with your Lap-Band surgery and are considering a weight loss revision or conversion surgery, Dr. Sutker and our team can help. Call our office in Dallas, Texas, today, or use our easy online booking tool to request an appointment at your convenience.
