This study basically states that lap bands fail over 50% of the time within 7 years.

My thoughts are that surgical techniques have likely improved and if someone follows the rules of the lap band, they are likely to succeed. But, this does worry me.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?Db=pubmed&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=16839478&ordinalpos=2&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

any surgery (even manicures) can have complications. its just part of life.

you take that chance regardless. i felt that chance was worth it. and if something does happen, i will deal with it at that time but def not gonna worry about what if and what could happen......what if it dont?

Personally, I do not put a lot of stock in studies. By the way that article was published in 2006 and not only have surgical techniques have improved but so did patient education. There also have been newer and better revisions of the bands themselves put out by the manufacturer.

Don't take this personal but this type of post is the kind that will bring out the Anti-bandsters causing defensive backlash by pro bandsters. I am sure that is not your intent at all but I have seen these type of threads go south time and time again.

Not my intent at all! And thank you both for responding.

I'm scheduled for this Fri. I had blown off the study for the exact reasons you mentioned, but then I thought, why not ask the folks on lapbandtalk.com. Lot of people on this forum. Just really interested in what others think about the study.

Again, not trying to stir anything up. It's a big decision and just trying my best to make the right one for me.

Just think about the 70's when heart transplants were first introduced. Nearly all of them failed after just a few years or less.

New technology has made the band much safer and doctors are more educated in choosing candidates for this type of WLS. Back in the 90's anyone who was obese was a candidate. Contraindications were nil for the band. Now, patient selection is more stringent. Should be even more stringent imo but it is getting better.

Dr. O'Brien's study is the newest I know of. http://journals.lww.com/annalsofsurgery/pages/articleviewer.aspx?year=2013&issue=01000&article=00013&type=abstract

Love Dr. O'Brien. Thank you for that.

You actually made me aware of him on a post from a while back.

For anyone that doesn't know. The 8 golden rules youtube videos is excellent.

I think it's a study from 2006, thus totally outdated and irrelevant for people being banded currently.

Plus, that study is going to be largely based on the old 4cc band, which we already know had a high complication rate and is no longer used in the US or UK because of it.

If you want a current study (and the largest ever done on the Lap Band), have a look here: http://www.futurity.org/health-medicine/weight-stays-off-long-after-lap-band-surgery/

Here's just a small part of it:

"The study, the longest and most comprehensive yet reported, appears in the Annals of Surgery, and finds a significant number of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (lap banding) patients maintained an average weight loss of 26 kilograms for more than a decade after their procedure."

Thanks a lot everyone for responding. I think you guys are spot on.

Great response Missy... that is where I was going to refer him.

The removal rate for Lapband per their own website is only 25%.

http://www.lapband.com/hcp/en/risk_information/

Patients can experience complications after surgery. Most complications are not serious but some may require hospitalization and/or re-operation. In the United States clinical study, with 3-year follow-up reported, 88% of the 299 patients had one or more adverse events, ranging from mild, moderate, to severe. Nausea and vomiting (51%), gastroesophageal reflux (regurgitation) (34%), band slippage/pouch dilatation (24%) and stoma obstruction (stomach-band outlet blockage) (14%) were the most common post-operative complications. In the study, 25% of the patients had their band systems removed, two-thirds of which were following adverse events. Esophageal dilatation or dysmotility (poor esophageal function) occurred in 11% of patients, the long-term effects of which are currently unknown. Constipation, diarrhea and dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) occurred in 9% of the patients. In 9% of the patients, a second surgery was needed to fix a problem with the band or initial surgery. In 9% of the patients, there was an additional procedure to fix a leaking or twisted access port. The access port design has been improved. Four out of 299 patients (1.3%) had their bands erode into their stomachs. These bands needed to be removed in a second operation. Surgical techniques have evolved to reduce slippage. Surgeons with more laparoscopic experience and more experience with these procedures report fewer complications.

Not my intent at all! And thank you both for responding.

I'm scheduled for this Fri. I had blown off the study for the exact reasons you mentioned' date=' but then I thought, why not ask the folks on lapbandtalk.com. Lot of people on this forum. Just really interested in what others think about the study.

Again, not trying to stir anything up. It's a big decision and just trying my best to make the right one for me.[/quote']

Good luck.

I think it's a study from 2006' date=' thus totally outdated and irrelevant for people being banded currently.

Plus, that study is going to be largely based on the old 4cc band, which we already know had a high complication rate and is no longer used in the US or UK because of it.

If you want a current study (and the largest ever done on the Lap Band), have a look here: http://www.futurity.org/health-medicine/weight-stays-off-long-after-lap-band-surgery/

Here's just a small part of it:

"The study, the longest and most comprehensive yet reported, appears in the Annals of Surgery, and finds a significant number of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (lap banding) patients maintained an average weight loss of 26 kilograms for more than a decade after their procedure."[/quote']

Very helpful. ..thanks