Is Lap Band Too Risky?

Back in December Tamara Walter, 52, died three days after undergoing gastric banding at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, California. Her family sued the ad firm and the two physicians involved with her case.
Considering the circumstances of her death, I think many people who considered undergoing the Lap Band procedure, got scared.

Let me say a few words about the Lap Band Procedure for the sake of those readers who are not familiar with it. The Lap-Band is a quite recent surgical weight loss option. The FDA approved it in 2001. Since then this technology developed a great deal.

While the procedure itself, the bariatric surgeon places a silicone band on the top of the stomach restricting this way the amount of the food intake, then fills it with saline. The band itself is adjustable, if needed the surgeon can access the band through a port, which is placed underneath the patient's skin. Gastric banding is a laparoscopic surgery; it is completely reversible and it is less invasive than gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy, both irreversible surgical weight loss options.

Like any surgery, Lap Band also presents risks starting from general surgical risks like infection, gastric perforation, through band slippage, band erosion, problems with the port, stoma obstruction, nausea and vomiting, gastroesophageal reflux, just to name the most common ones. Apart from these complications, death is a risk as well and every patient choosing to undergo weight loss surgery should know that. The mortality rate with Lap Band is 1 in 2000, which is very low considering the benefits of the procedure.

Ms. Walter's family started the lawsuit because the 1-800-GET-THIN ad said that the physicians are "top-rated" and the care within the facility is of "high level".
This is why it is imperiously necessary to choose the right place and the right physicians. This is a very important step. Each patient should do a thorough research about the facility he or she intends to undergo weight loss surgery; also, they would want to choose a surgeon who has a wide experience in weight loss surgery and performed many successful procedures.

I myself, work together with a multidisciplinary team lead by bariatric surgeon Dr. Jeremy Korman. L.A. Bariatrics, within Marina Del Rey Hospital is a Center of Excellence in bariatric surgery. This title means that the facility and surgeons as well are highly committed and efficient.

Dr. Jeremy Korman, the medical director of L.A. Bariatrics, is an indeed highly experienced bariatric surgeon, he performed over a 1000 successful weight loss surgeries, he is board certified and specialized in several types of bariatric surgery.

1. Prev:Living with Gastric Sleeve Surgery - Diet
2. Next:Lap Band Surgery - Your Commitment is Part of Success