Laparoscopic gastric band surgery has many benefits:
It is reversible
It is adjustable
It has lower initial death rate than gastric sleeve surgery
The major disadvantages of gastric bands are:
Long term discomfort or pain from irritation of the stomach lining
Erosion into stomach (the band may slowly eat through the stomach wall causing a hole)- this requires further gastric sleeve surgery that could be life threatening, requiring life support machines
Slippage of band (the lower part of the stomach may shoot through the band causing an enlarged upper pouch)- this causes nausea, reflux and vomiting
Malposition of the band (causing a kink in the stomach) or the band may not encircle the stomach properly giving no restriction of food passing through and, therefore, failing to achieve weight loss
Problems with the port (requiring further surgery to replace or reposition)
Internal bleeding
Infection
About 30% of gastric band patients fail to lose weight
30-40% of gastric band patients require re-operation of a gastric sleeve surgery over time, including removal of gastric band or conversion to sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass
Requires long term monthly follow-ups, which is time consuming. Patients will require monthly needle adjustments to achieve weight loss.
