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.

Public Comments

1. I knew someone who had slippage and there was an obstruction as a result. But she did survive the ordeal, and from my understanding it was a rare occurance. But personally I haven't heard of deaths from Lap Band.
2. My Lap Band snapped, and decapitated my poodle who was sitting next to me. I'm getting a lawyer.
3. I work with someone who lad it done, I also know personally 2 others that had it done. Of the three, only one lost weight. It's not a cure all. I had the stomach stapling done twice. Both times gained it back. Second time I lost 170 lbs. You HAVE to do what you are told to do and want it bad enough. It doesn't work if you don't follow the directions and help it work. Good luck!
4. I am the same.. considered obese but not THAT obese.. why is it that you cant diet and exersise? you cant control yourself? I am on a serious diet right now.. exersising 30 -90 mins a day as well as eating less than 1000 calories a day. I have a reason.. just got back with my ex boyfriend from 2 yrs ago.... and 3 yrs ago I was 50 pounds smaller.. He still likes me but I want to be able to do...things... that I used to do.. such as being on top ya know.. So what im saying here is that you need to find a reason that will make you want to lose weight and BE HEALTHY so bad that it overweighs the need for bad food.. Lapband would make it so you could be lazy,.. but why cant you just control yourself instead... and then you can save that money for something better..
5. 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!
6. The lap band procedure is pretty safe, if it is done laparoscopically . The best bet is to research, there are a lot of great websites on the Internet. Some people are right, it is not an easy way out, you have to follow the "band rules" for the lap band to work for you, there are ways to cheat!