The statistics concerning Lap Band surgery are surprising, and point out why this is the most commonly used bariatric surgery method around the world. The Lap Band technique received FDA approval in 2001 for use in the USA, and since then this surgery is ranked #2 in the United States concerning the number of surgeries for weight loss performed. When the global number of procedures are totaled more than three hundred thousand patients have had Lap Band surgery. One study performed by surgeons who perform Lap Band procedures followed 1,791 patients for a twelve year period following their procedures, and the resulting statistics give a good picture of the benefits that this surgery can have over the long term.
Out of all the patients followed after having a Lap Band surgery done, there were no fatalities, which offers a mortality and morbidity rate of zero percent in this study. This statistic shows that this surgery is extremely safe. Out of the 1,791 patients followed 5.9% experienced major complications which required at least one additional operation, and this was 106 people. Out of these 106 patients:
- 3.9% or 70 people experienced stomach slippage and pouch dilation.
- 0.9% or 16 people had erosion complications
- 0.7% or 14 individuals experienced psychological intolerance
- 0.27% or 5 people had complications caused by HIV, infections, or small perforation issues
- 0.05% or 1 patient suffered from gastric necrosis and required a gastrectomy
Some of the common co-morbidity and less serious complication rates which were reported include the following statistics:
57.8% of the patients had osteoarthritis
35.6% of patients were affected by hypertension
31.4% suffered from sleep apnea
27.1% of the patients involved experienced dislipidemia
27.1% suffered from hyperuricemia
22.5% of the patients had intense cravings for sweets
22% of patients had diabetes
21.2% of the individuals had depression
18.5% experienced issues with binge eating
8.7% were affected by gallstones
4,9% had an irregular menstrual cycle
1.4% of patients in the study experienced heart failure
The average weight loss for patients who have Lap Band surgery is between one and a half to two pounds a week. The typical results seen are around fifty percent of the excess weight lost in the first year for patients who are morbidly obese.