Can your lap band create a leak to where it doesn't hold the saline solution?

Question

I have had my lap band since March 2010, I have loved it since then. My last adjustment was in October of 2014, and then suddenly the last 2 month I went crazy with the eating, so on the 9th of this month I went in and got an adjustment. He put in 1.4 CC's. He didn't want to put too much in there and then me have problems. But i knew that that wasn't enough. Sure enough, 2 weeks later I had to get 1 more cc's entered in and I still don't feel like it is that tight. Is that something to be concerned with?

Daniel J. Rosen, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

With what you are describing, it is possible that there is a problem with your Lap Band that should be excluded. It can be a leak, which can be checked by withdrawing the full volume of fluid in the band as the first step of an adjustment.  It should approximately match the recorded total volume injected during your previous adjustments. Another possible explanation is that the band may have eroded through one wall of the stomach.  Since the band is no longer completely around the outside of the stomach, the squeeze-like effect achieved with an adjustment is no longer felt and food can pass around the eroded edge of the band that is now in the middle of your stomach.  The best way to identify this problem is with an endoscopy, which will look inside the stomach and would show the eroded part of the band that is now inside.  Another possibility is a slipped band, which could give you more hunger and a larger pouch to fill up before getting full, but would also come with more vomiting.  A slipped band tends to kink off the stomach over time.   This can best be diagnosed with an Upper GI Swallow Study, which is an X-Ray where you swallow some contrast to clearly see the band and It's location on the stomach.  If after your complaints, your bariatric surgeon is not scheduling these diagnostic tests, consider getting a second opinion.

Terry Simpson, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

He an check for a leak by checking the amount of saline in the band and rechecking a week later. About two per cent of the time they leak - an easy fix because it is usually near the port. Until then - buckle up - eat a lot of vegetables daily to stave off hunger

Can your lap band create a leak to where it doesn't hold the saline solution?

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Can your lap band create a leak to where it doesn't hold the saline solution?

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Everything you need to know about Lap Band

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.