LAP BAND REVISION AFTER 10 YEARS

[nerms 237]

Hi all,

My mums a bit worried because she needs to get a lap band revision, she had one put in about 10 years ago but it wasn't adjustable and basically stretched and stopped doing its job. She's wanting another lap band put in, but can't get it done if they can't remove the old lap band.

Just wondering if anyone else has gone through this so that I can get back to my mum about it, I know other people have had revisions to other WLS's, but I'm assuming it's the same process as they still have to remove the band?

Thanks in advance.

[2muchfun 8,927]

I've never heard of anyone who couldn't have their band removed. It's a simple surgery unless there are erosion issues?

Sometimes a new band cannot be installed due to excessive scar tissue and the surgeon won't know this till they get in to the body cavity to see?

Finally, I've also never heard of a band that's not adjustable and could stretch? Maybe your information isn't correct or the band that's around her stomach stopped being adjustable due to a leak or being faulty?

tmf

[nerms 237]

It was done for free years ago, I've just googled it and it's also called a VGB "vertical gastric band" .. Pretty much no one gets them anymore because obviously the adjustable one is much better.

She's worried that the band has sunk into the tissue, apparently it makes it a more dangerous procedure and leaves a hole?

I understand everyone is different, I was just wondering if anyone else has experienced anything similar to her so I could pass on some information.

[2muchfun 8,927]

I googled it too and glad no one is doing those anymore(I hope). Yes, there are several here who have suffered with a band that has eroded into the stomach and it's called erosion. It's dangerous and usually they won't place another band over an erosion site. Go to the search engine on this site and search for erosion under all forums and you'll find many discussions about erosion?

[nerms 237]

Thanks, I didn't realise that it was erosion. I'll let her know!

[2muchfun 8,927]

Here's a study regarding band erosion and surgical removal:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3268139/