Gastric Band Removal  

Problems arising from laparoscopic gastric bands (lap bands) are common, and lap band removal is becoming more and more popular. As many as half of all people with gastric bands eventually have their lap band taken out for a number of reasons ranging from inadequate weight loss to serious complications.

Fortunately, there are options for revising a gastric band to another weight loss surgery to maintain and improve long-term weight loss and health problems. The Center for Weight Loss Surgery at Newton-Wellesley Hospital does not place lap bands, but we can remove them and convert to another procedure.

Laparoscopic gastric band conversion procedure.

About Gastric Bands

Placing a laparoscopic gastric band around the stomach is a safe method for weight loss, but complications sometimes do occur. These include:

• band slippage
• gastric erosion (where the stomach tissue is damaged because of the band pressure)
• esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus)
• pouch dilation (spreading of the stomach behind the band restriction)
• laparoscopic port complications (infection or positioning issues)
• failure in significant weight loss

Another consideration about the lap band procedure is that it does not have any metabolic effect, and therefore it does not adequately treat the disease of obesity. Up to half of gastric band operations are estimated to have some form of complication, many of which require surgical intervention, and the weight loss failure rate in the U.S. can be anywhere from 16 to 50 percent.

The Newton-Wellesley Hopsital Center for Weight Loss helps patients in the Greater Boston area and beyond who have experienced complications with the lap band procedure. We are able to remove lap bands and convert to another procedure.

When Removal Is Appropriate

• Lack of adequate weight loss
• Band erosion
• Band infection
• Band intolerance symptoms (includes nausea, vomiting, or a continuous feeling of discomfort or pain)
• Band slippage
• Difficulty swallowing
• Esophageal dysmotility and/or dilatation
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Pouch dilation (enlarging of the stomach pouch that forms above the band)
• Port infection
• Flipped or migrating port

The Procedure

Regardless of how your initial gastric band surgery was performed, it will likely be possible for your removal procedure to be performed laparoscopically.

After the procedure you may be able to leave Newton-Wellesley Hospital the day of your procedure or have a short (one- to two-day) hospital stay depending on existing medical conditions, any repair of the stomach injured by the band or if you choose to convert to another weight loss surgical procedure.

The removal procedure is likely to carry a similar risk of complications as the initial procedure; in other words, a relatively low risk.

Weight Gain After the Procedure

Following removal of the gastric band, most people’s stomach returns to its normal, pre-operative state.  If you have developed good diet, exercise, and lifestyle habits and are able to maintain these habits following removal of your band, you may be able to keep the weight off.

Unfortunately for many people, the loss of restriction to the stomach after the band removal usually leads to an increased feeling of hunger and the ability to eat larger quantities of food.  As a result, many patients who undergo removal of their gastric band revert to their pre-surgery weight, unless they decide to undergo conversion to another weight loss procedure. Learn more about lap band conversion.

Call us at 617-243-3724 to request an appointment.