Prognosis

Patients with an implanted gastric band have the chance to reduce 40 – 60% of their weight. The gastric banding leads to the patient having to restrict their food intake: If the cause of obesity is excessive consumption of sweet foods (so-called “sweet eaters”), the gastric banding will not have any effect as long as the patient does not limit the consumption of these foods. Therefore, people who prefer hearty foods will benefit more from gastric banding.

The patient undergoing such an operation must be aware that he/she will not be able to eat normally like other people. He needs much longer for food intake. The implantation of a gastric banding also has a positive effect on the concomitant diseases caused by obesity. By the weight reduction the patients can: The vast majority of patients report a significant increase in quality of life .

The food can no longer be slurped
The food must be carefully chewed so that it fits through the gastric band
Otherwise it comes fast to vomiting
Sweet dishes like ice cream, milkshakes or mousse au chocolat fit easily through the narrow opening of the gastric band
Normalize the blood sugar level
Lower blood pressure and
A sleep apnea syndrome improves or disappears
Joint diseases decrease
Depression improves or disappears

Side effects

The gastric band is a good method to lose weight effectively and to counteract possible concomitant diseases such as diabetes mellitus or hypertension. However, the method also has disadvantages. The insertion (implantation) of the gastric band is an invasive procedure, which, like any other operation, involves various risks, such as:.

But it is not only the procedure itself that can lead to complications. Even after successful gastric banding implantation, various side effects can occur in the long term. A common side effect of the gastric band implantation is the occurrence of vomiting, which can be extremely stressful for the patient.

Vomiting occurs especially when food is not chewed long enough or swallowed too hastily. The frequent vomiting of acid gastric juice can cause long-term tooth damage. Therefore, patients with a gastric band are recommended to visit their dentist regularly.

Frequent vomiting also carries the risk of aspiration. Aspiration is the swallowing of liquids or food components into the trachea. In the worst case, this can even lead to acute shortness of breath and thus pose a potential danger to life.

Another problem that arises when food is not chewed long enough or swallowed too hastily is that too much food can block the passage through the stomach.

Bleeding
Infections
Injury to organs in the immediate vicinity of the stomach
The formation of bruises, blood clots and disturbing scars

In addition, food components that remain in the stomach for too long can irritate the stomach lining and lead to gastritis. The passage of medication in tablet form can also be impeded by a gastric band, which can delay the onset of action of the medication.

This must be taken into account especially in patients with concomitant diseases. The gastric band itself can also cause problems. Over time, the gastric band can change its position, i.e. move up or down.

This process is called slippage. On the one hand, a change in the position of the gastric band can lead to stomach obstructions. On the other hand, the gastric band can slip in such a way that it no longer has any tightening effect on the stomach and the gastric band thus becomes non-functional.

Furthermore, if the pressure on the stomach wall is too high, the gastric band can even grow together with the wall or cut into the stomach. This process is called penetration. In the worst case, the penetration of the gastric band can cause bleeding and perforations in the stomach wall.If the gastric band slips or grows together with the stomach wall (penetration), a new operation is necessary, which again involves the risks mentioned above.

If necessary, other methods of stomach reduction must then be considered. The longer the gastric band remains in the body, the higher the risk of a new operation due to slippage or penetration of the gastric band. In rare cases, leakage of the gastric band may also occur, which can cancel the actual function of the gastric band.

The gastric band must then be replaced again during surgery. In most cases, the gastric band must be replaced after four to five years due to wear and tear or blockages. Since the gastric band is made of silicone, an intolerance reaction against the silicone is also conceivable in principle as a further possible side effect.

It is important that unhealthy lifestyles are discarded after gastric banding implantation. The gastric band causes a reduction in the size of the stomach, which means that less food and only smaller food components can be absorbed. Vegetables, fruit, meat and bread in particular often cause discomfort when eating, which is why some patients start to eat soft or liquid foods.

Tasty soft or liquid foods are especially desserts, such as pudding, lemonade and ice cream. In the long term, another important side effect of the gastric band may even be an increase in the patient’s weight. This reverse effect in turn has a negative influence on possible concomitant diseases such as diabetes mellitus or hypertension.

In addition, this type of diet leads to a deficiency of essential components from healthy food (vitamins, minerals, trace elements) and thus further side effects such as fatigue, hair loss, muscle cramps or even osteoporosis (bone loss) can occur. Therefore, it is important that the patient learns healthy eating habits after the gastric band implantation and takes enough time to eat. A gastric band may cause side effects and late complications even after a long period of time.

On the one hand, swallowed objects or chunks of food can block the passage through the stomach. In the worst case, this can make another emergency operation necessary. In most cases, however, the ingestion of too large a portion of the food quickly leads to vomiting.

Long-term consequences of more frequent vomiting in gastric band carriers are tooth damage and an increased risk of pneumonia due to swallowed vomit (aspiration pneumonia). Another possible complication may be the incision of the gastric band into the organ. The band can also slip.

In both cases, a new operation to remove the band is also necessary. In addition, repeated piercing of the port to regulate the pressure of the gastric band by germ transfer can lead to infection of the foreign material. Even in such a case, the entire system must usually be removed, otherwise there is a risk of life-threatening blood poisoning.