Can a Lap Band Leak?

The Lap-Band is a prosthetic device made out of silastic, an inert material that has been used in medical devices for decades. It does not break down or deteriorate over time and can be safely left inside the body for life. The Lap-Band is designed not to leak and has not shown deterioration in any reported studies.

A lap band leak is very rare and usually does not pose harm to the body since the fluid used for adjustments is normal.  If the cause of a leak is tubing breakage then this may cause some discomfort but the fluid from the tubing should not cause any harm.

Leaks are very rare after Lap-Band placement.  This is usually noticed by the patients losing the sense of fullness they had after eating small meals.  There is no danger from a leak because the band contains normal saline which is absorbed by the body.  It usually requires a very minor operation to repair leaks.