Hello. I understand the people getting lap band need a port to adjust the band. But I feel like I’m reading about people getting bypass who end up with drainage ports. Why is this? Is it common?

9 hours ago, Elvira OC said:

Hello. I understand the people getting lap band need a port to adjust the band. But I feel like I’m reading about people getting bypass who end up with drainage ports. Why is this? Is it common?

You'll have 5 or 6 incision holes from the utensils needed with surgery but some people me included had a drain for a few days just to collect blood and fluids from inside your stomach area...

I see. Thank you for explaining.

My wife and I both had sleeve, I had a drain for 24 hours, she did not. So for at least that procedure it’s up to your surgeon.

A port and a drain are 2 different things.

The lap band system includes a port that is implanted under the skin that allows the doctor or his staff to inject fluid into the lap band system in order to adjust the band.

The drain you're referring to is a post-surgical drain. Depending on the circumstances, which may or may not be directly related to the type of surgery, the surgeon places a drain into your surgical areas to drain away excess blood and fluid. It's to help reduce swelling and the chance of infection as well as to promote healing. It's usually connected to a little bulb that applies gentle suction and "sucks out" that extra fluid. It's temporary and aside from the minor inconvenience, not terribly painful.