Are You Talking About Several Lap Bands? The Hidden Story Behind the Lap Band…PART II
Since 2006, it has been reported world wide, that 200,000 Lap Band surgeries have been performed and that the Lap Band procedure is the fastest growing weight loss surgery in United States. There are many different types and brands of lap bands available. Take some time to read through the following details.
“Lap Band”
Inamed-Allergan Lap Band Models:
Lap Band Model 1: Lap Band 9.75 cm; maximum volume of 4 cc (high pressure balloon)
Lap Band Model 2: Lap Band 10 cm; maximum volume of 4 cc (high pressure balloon)
Lap Band Model 3: Lap band 11 cm; maximum volume of 9 cc (high pressure balloon)
These first 3 models of the Lap Band are almost out of the market or obtained for a very low price because of a high rate of complications such as slippage and de-banding.
Lap Band Model 4: Lap Band VG 11 cm; maximum volume of 10 cc (one inch without the low pressure balloon)
Lap Band Model 5: Lap Band AP 11 cm; maximum volume of 14 cc (360 degree low pressure balloon)
“Realize Band”
The Swedish Band was introduced in 1985. As of 2007 in the United States, it’s now referred to as the Johnson & Johnson Realize Band, and is known as the Quick Close in Mexico. The changes made to the Realize Band and Quick Close have been to the fastening mechanism and to the port, but the length of the Lap Band or the balloon have not been altered. Other Lap Bands available in the Latin and European markets are a lot less expensive, are not FDA approved and do not meet the minimum quality standards. By using these non FDA approved bands, the Lap Band procedure can be inadequate.
Why is the complication rate in the United States higher than in the rest of the World?
Facts:
Since June 5, 2001 the Gastric Band or Lap Band, as it is known in the United States, was FDA approved for use as an alternative for weight loss (small model).
The only FDA approved Lap Band Model used for the first 3 years was the Inamed 9.75 cm (First out of five generations of the Lap Band).
In Mexico, this first Lap band Model hit the market in 1995.
The trials for getting the Inamed Lap Band approved by the FDA were done by surgeons with little experience in Lap Band technique and the very important Lap Band follow up and after care.
Many Bariatric Surgeons still have a poor conception of the Lap Band Procedure due to the inadequate results of the first trials.
The trials were performed with the short lap band model and without a comparative study with other Lap band devices, therefore the reports received from the Lap Band Centers, regardless of weight loss and complications, were collected incorrectly, falsely or insufficiently.
Inamed’s first three Lap Band models were short in length, very rigid and had a small high pressure balloon, resulting in more complications than the Swedish Lap Band.
The reports coming out of the United States indicate Lap Band slippage and erosion rates were higher in the USA vs. the rest of the world, because the only model used was the first Lap Band (9.75 cm).
In the end, we knew long before that poor quality and the rudimentary design of the Lap Band were responsible for the inadequate weight loss achieved and complications such as slippage and erosion because of the rigidity of the Lap Band, the small circumference and the high pressure balloon.
Promoters and brokers conceal this information to American patients traveling to Mexico for the Lap Band Surgery because they receive (and still receive) great deals and prices for selling the Lap Band (any model) across the border, resulting in high profits for them with no regard to the patient’s outcome.
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If physicians in the USA wouldn’t charge such extreme prices for lap band and sleeve surgery’s, people wouldn’t resort to going to Mexico to have the surgery done. $10,000 in Mexico vs. $20,000 in the USA is a big difference.
I had mine done in Mexico, only to find out later that I would have trouble finding a physician to fill the band. A bariatric center near me refused to see me unless it was an emergency. I am 5 years post op and believe I have slippage but have no way of fixing it without returning to Mexico for Northern Idaho.
Hello Phyllis,
It is sad to hear the problems you had but one thing I am sure about is that patients without any lapband fill do not get slippage.
Where did you have your fills done and how many you had?
I know many doctors in the US do not take others doctor’s patients not this is not only happening on bariatric patients.
They act this way because they do not want to get into legal issues that seems to occur very frequent in the US.
There are many fill centers in the US to take care of your Lapband but you don’t need a fill center right now.
What you need is to have a barium swallow to check the lapband and your stomach status. That can be done in any place in the States.
Let me know what they find you.
By the way, where did you have your surgery done?