Side Effects & Risks of Lap Band Surgery
Although lap band surgery is much less invasive than traditional bariatric surgery, it’s still a serious operation and complications can arise. The most common side effects are nausea and vomiting.
Other complications like ulceration, gastritis, heartburn and dehydration can also occur. Your doctor will direct you with regard to the best ways to avoid uncomfortable side effects, but there are few general rules of thumb to keep in mind:
● eat slowly
● don’t eat and drink at the same time
● chew your food thoroughly
● keep hydrated - drink about 8 cups of water each day, but not with meals
As a less invasive procedure, the risk of complications are lower than other bariatric surgeries, but serious and potentially life threatening complications do exist. While uncommon, those risks include the following:
● bleeding
● ulceration
● infection
● seepage
● leakage
● band slippage
● band erosion