The complications of gastroplasty are fortunately rare, but important to know.

 It is essential to evaluate the operational risk compared to the anticipated profits of gastric banding,
   before taking the decision to have an operation.

 This risk is related to your medical history (cardiac, pulmonary…) and with the procedure (surgery and anaesthesia).

First week

Operational complications are possible, they can bring to stop the procedure : perforation, haemorrhage, impossibility of intubation of the trachea. They are serious complications, with a vital pronostic. The phlebitis and pulmonary embolisms are prevented by the use of anticoagulant drugs with low dose and the port of special socks.

First month

An infection on the level of a small scar, the reversal of the case are possible.

After the first month

Dilation of the pouch is a serious problem.   This dilation initially involves a major reduction in the system effectiveness and then a difficulty of feeding. Not detected in time, it will require the ablation of the gastric band by a new coelioscopy. The dilation of the pouch is prevented by a very rigorous procedure : precise passage of the ring behind the stomach, calibration of the pouch from 15 to 25 cc, fixing of the band by hiding on the level of the left part of the stomach. The dilation of the pouch is supported by the vomiting and a too important thightening of th band. To avoid dilation, it is important to eat in moderated quantity, slowly. If theband is well tightened, that you vomit and that your weight loss is not important and constant, it is because you eat too much by ratios with the possibilities that you leaves the gastric band, you “force” the system. It is necessary to make a radiography, to study your mode of food well to correct it and possibly loosen the band.     Migration of the band into the stomach is rare. It occurs in less than 1% of the cases. The band will migrate slowly through the wall of the stomach. It results in an inefficiency of the system, with disappearance of satiety. Its diagnosis is confirmed by a gastric fibroscopy. The treatment is not yet completely codified : often ablation of the band by coelioscopy, sometimes makes an attempt that the band passes completely inside the stomach and ablation of the band by a fibroscopy.

Failure of gastroplasty

Seldom the failure is complete : no weight loss, ingestion in large quantity of liquid foods (soups, ice creams…) who pass the band without involving easily satiety, or nibbling all the day. These food behavioral problems are often - but not always - detectable during the assessment before the intervention. These people should not have been operated, or should have profited from a food rehabilitation during several months before the surgical procedure. In other case, one speaks about failure when : The weight loss is lower than 50% of the weight excess. The patient is unhappy with his gastroplasty : decreased food comfort, too rigorous dietetic rules, too demanding follow-up. These failures stress the importance of the assessment before the intervention, the good knowledge of the food constraints and the anticipated results of gastroplasty.