Considering Lap Band Surgery - has anyone heard of deaths related to this surger!
Question:
Considering Lap Band Surgery - has anyone heard of deaths related to this surgery?.?
Okay... the deal is... I'm fat. But I'm not so fat that I qualify for insurance to cover the procedure.
I am, however, obese. So, I am able to get the Lap Band... but I will have to pay for it.
I think I am going to do it.
I have a beautiful 4 year old. The worst thing I could imagine is her having to grow up without a mother. The second worse is having her mother just get fatter and fatter with each failed diet.
Does anyone have any statistics on people who have died from complications of lap band surgery?
Please don't tell me to try to diet and exercise... been there... done that... for the past 15 years.... each time I diet... I come back with avengance.
Answers:
Most people who die are people who are very old or have other complications like high BP, diabetes, heart problems, etc.
Since this is an elective surgery, they will make you get everything tested, like see a cardiologist (stresstest, ekg, echocardiogram), pulmonogist (lung function test, sleep apnea), gastroentologist (endoscopy), blood tests, physchiatry, etc.
The most dangerous part is the anesthesia. If everything else is good, you won't have any problems.
Apparently, less that 2% of people have problem with anything serious from the lapband. My surgeon had done over 600 surgeries and lost only one.
Most statistics you get do not cover lapband.. they cover all bariatric surgery, whether it be lapband, Duodenal Switch, or Rouen-Y.
My advice:
1. Get a good surgeon who has done many surgeries (over 100)
2. Avoid Mexico or any other 3rd world country.
3. Get the surgery on a Monday or Tuesday. So you are home by Wednesday or Thursday. If you had surgery on a Thursday, and case of complications, over the weekend (first 72 hours) there are less surgeons available and you may have to work with the resident or intern!