What is a Gastric Band Revision?
The Gastric Band, also known as Lap-Band is an inflatable silicon band that is placed in the upper part of the stomach to achieve weight loss by restricting the amount of food that actually gets into the stomach.
The Gastric Band is a minimally invasive and reversible procedure. However, the results have shown that is not an effective procedure. Many studies have shown that more than 70% of patients with a Gastric Band have to remove it due to complications or inadequate weight loss.
Should I get my Gastric Band removed?
Indications for a Gastric Band removal are:
- Inadequate Weight Loss.
- Weight Regain.
- Band Intolerance. Symptoms can include excessive nausea and vomiting, difficulty swallowing and pain after eating.
- Band Infection. Signs of band infection indicate that the band eroded into the stomach.
- Band Slippage can occur when the Lap band moves down the stomach and creates a bigger pouch above the band.
- Severe Heartburn. Some patients may develop new heartburn symptoms after lap band procedure. If the heartburn symptoms are severe, this may lead to esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus). For patients with severe heartburn symptoms that do not respond to anti-acid medications, lap band removal may relieve the symptoms.
- Esophageal Dysmotility, Dilation or Esophagitis. With long-term use of lap band, some patients may develop esophageal dilation (expansion of tissue), dysmotility (lack of movement) or esophagitis (inflammation). Fluid removal or lap band removal may be required for patients with severe symptoms.
Gastric Band Revision Options
Depending on your goals, health circumstances, history and anatomy, you may be able to choose between having a sleeve gastrectomy, single anastomosis duodenal switch, or gastric bypass. Once the band has been removed, these procedures are done as they would be if done as the primary procedure. You and your surgeon can discuss your options in the office during a revision consultation.
- Gastric Band to Gastric Sleeve Conversion.
- Gastric Band to Gastric Bypass Conversion.
If you are considering any of these procedures, feel free to contact us at 1 (833) 463-9263
Frequently Asked Questions
To schedule a consultation with My New Body – Obesity Center, California, call us at 1(833) 463-9263 or fill out our online form >
Yes. Adjustments are done there so the access port can be clearly seen. When X-rays are used, your reproductive organs should be shielded. Sometimes adjustments can be done in an outpatient clinic or office. Local anesthesia may or may not be needed. A fine needle is passed through the skin into the access port to add or subtract saline. This process most often takes only a few minutes. Most patients say it is nearly painless.
No. Depending on the procedure to be done after removing the Gastric Band, you need to meet the criteria for that specific bariatric procedure.
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