The Dark Side Of The Lap Band
Every time I drive around to Los Angeles, especially around the holidays, I’m inundated with billboards advertising lap band surgery. I guess the home of the Hollywood culture of thin chic is the perfect market for that sort of thing. But whenever I see the billboards, I think of my friend Sony, who had the band put in nine years ago and has regretted it as long as I’ve known her. Finally, once she started having certain complications, the insurance company agreed to pay for its removal. She’s written about her experience with the lap band here.
The first year was pretty good. I lost about 50 pounds. I had a few issues, but nothing major and overall I felt great. I was losing weight slowly, with minimal frustration, and basking in the compliments and goodwill of people who were trying to be supportive.
The second year was not great. I plateaued for several months, then went in to get my band tightened, but it tightened so much that I couldn’t swallow my own spit and I had to go get it untightened in the ER in the middle of the night. It was downhill from there. I never found the sweet spot between feeling satiated on smaller amounts of food but not throwing up constantly. Some people with the band do, but long term statistics indicate that the number of people who do is closer to 10 percent of all the people who have the surgery.
“Success” is something everyone should be aware when it comes to weight loss, and weight loss surgeries. For the marketing collateral they claim 60-80% “success” – but depending on what you’re reading they will define it as some small percent of body mass lost and/or limit the time to a couple of years. There aren’t a lot of ten year follow ups, and they never do the math to include the people who died from the surgeries in their failures either.
So. No happy middle ground with the band for me. In years two and three the weight started coming back, even though I was following all the rules, getting my band adjusted, and exercising as regularly as I could. For the past six years or so I have weighed exactly what I did when I had the surgery.
The day to day reality of living with this is that I eat in a completely disordered way, I eat much less healthy, fresh food than I would like (or ever did pre-op), I’m tired all the time, I’m cold all the time, I vomit several times a day most days, and I get horrible reflux if I try to sleep on my back or my stomach or my left side. In the last few months there has been blood present a few times when I was vomiting, which finally vaulted the need to have this thing out from elective to emergency as far as the insurance company is concerned.
Obviously, this is only one person’s experience. But as long as there are all those billboards touting the surgery as an easy way to get thin quickly, I think it’s worth sharing the stuff that they’ll never put on a billboard.
Posted by mo pie
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I read recently that the chain behind those awful “1-800-get-thin” billboards has been responsible for at least two deaths. I haven’t been able to forget the story of the woman behind the most recent one.
Those are exactly the billboards… ugh.
Twenty twenty twentyfour hours to go, I wanna be sedated…
I’ve had that stuck in my head all day. :)
Ha! Awesome. I’m excited for you!
I know it’s only one person’s experience, but I see this version of one person’s experience over and over and over. I have SO many friends who have had lap band surgery (and a couple with other forms of WLS) and not one of them has gone through it without complications, illness, misery and weight regain.
Yet so many people are being sold this lie over and over again.
There are ads for the lap band on the NYC subway, too. I think the place is called “Stop Obesity for Life” or something like that. It’s kind of horrifying that you can advertise for major surgery on public transportation. Ugh.
I recently had a doctor tell me I needed to get a lap band right away or I would die of deathfats. I gave him an earful.
I find this story so sad. I just recently wrote a long post on the research behind why dieting doesn’t work and the research supports that lap band surgery wouldn’t work either since your body can still correct for the lack of calories by lowering your metabolism. I think it’s awful that the medical community isn’t honest with the research so that patients have no idea what they’re getting into when they decide to have the surgery. It’s just sad.
Well, being honest with the research means less cash for them. Cash is going to win out.
I need to remember this stuff when I start feeling pressure from other sources to get the surgery- I had been considering it at one point, but my insurance at that time would not cover it and I am so thankful for that, because I don’t think it would have been good for me. There needs to be more publicity for this stuff- the complications, the bad stuff- but the culture we’re in worships weight loss so much that I think even if the failure rate was abysmally high, it would take nothing short of an FDA ban to convince people that this isn’t the way to do it, whether the “benefits” are outweighting the risks or not.
We need a better approach to getting people healthy, instead of throwing all this shame and dangerous crap at them.
I hope that 50 years from now people will look back on lap band surgery like we look back on lobotomies… brutal and inhumane.
I consider myself lucky to have watched a roommate go through this process. He moved in with me about 1 year after the surgery. He’d had his band tightened and was able to keep a very limited number of foods down–and these were not primarily healthy foods. He could really only eat purees or dry crispy foods without throwing up. I basically saw him as having surgically induced bulimia since he often vomited at least once a day. The sad thing to me about this was that he was still happy he’d had it done. He was so happy to have a body that was more socially acceptable even though he was very self-conscious of his saggy skin. Sometimes the stigma is really difficult to live with so I’m glad I have his example to keep me from too seriously considering what I am certain would be a mistake for my body.
Isidore, that is such a good point. I hope that does happen.
Actually, Bronwyn, the failure rate is abysmally high. I just can’t find the statistics at the moment. I’ll keep working on it.
Success is a 10% loss, and I can’t remember whether that’s excess weight or total body weight. Either way, for me, that would be something like 10-25 pounds. Not worth the misery.
Very well said Isidore-I have often thought the same thing. I figure these surgeries will go the way of the tapeworm eventually. It’s terrible that people have to suffer immeasurably in the mean time.
I honestly had no idea that WLS had such a high failure rate. I’ve never given it much thought, but objections to it always seem to be depicted as “it works but those selfish bishes are worried about *dying* in surgery”.
Not that that’s not a totally valid objection(are fat people really better off dead than fat?), but it’s nice to have some stats to throw in peoples’ faces. There’s something even more repulsive about facing death for something that probably won’t “work”.
I live in SoCal and there are stretches of the freeway where the 1-800-GET-THIN billboards stretch out like a string of pearls. The LA Times–Michael Hiltzik, in particular–has been covering these billboards and the company behind them fairly extensively and critically over the last year or so. Just search for “Lap-band on Times site. Most recent article regarding patient deaths is from today (Lap-band surgeon under review…). I’d link, but I’m techno-lame that way…
I know it’s only one person’s experience, but I see this version of one person’s experience over and over and over. I have SO many friends who have had lap band surgery (and a couple with other forms of WLS) and not one of them has gone through it without complications, illness, misery and weight regain.
Yet so many people are being sold this lie over and over again.
I’ve had the Lap band about 3 years ago I did lose 80 pounds, but at the cost of vomiting 3-4 time a day, not being able to eat fresh vegetable or fruit because my system will not break it down, I can’t eat sitting down because I get severe acid reflux and vomit, at this momment my esophagus is in pain everytime I swallow, I’m going to the doctor to see what wrong with me now. Please lose weight the old fashion way, the quick way is NOT WORTH THE RISK!!!!
I snore and my mother is a concern troll that thinks losing weight will solve the problem. The problem is, that I have tried to lose weight and failed every time. Now, she wants me to consider weight loss surgery. I have no comeback to her comments. By the way, my dad, who is skinny, also has a snoring problem but she blames his snoring on smoking. I’m a very heavy sleeper and totally unaware that my sleeping is causing problems. I haven’t exercised due to increment weather but I plan on doing so again. Any advice would be duly appreciated!
Omigosh, I love excercise.
I’d recommend power walking, and things that are easy on the knees. (That’s not a “fat” thing; that’s from seeing the effects of joint damage on many of my relatives, regardless of their weight.)
If you’re not too self conscious, swimming is good. I was self conscious at first, but it helped (this is very embarassing, god bless the interwebs) to think of myself as a heroine, marching and taking on Teh Patriarchy! Took me a while to cop that no one cared about my body.
Also, weight lifting or something to work your muscles – I’m lucky because I love it, but it stops your body leaching calcium from your upper body and improves brain power.
Er, hope that helps.
I think WLS is absolutely horrendous. My mother is convinced that it will be her answer and it scares me to death. Thank God her insurance won’t pay for it. Honestly, if you want lose weight, check out Gary Taubes’ “Why We Get Fat” that just came out. It actually gets to the root cause instead of just yelling, “Get off the couch and stop stuffing your faces, fatties!” And if you like your current weight, just give ’em the finger! This shaming behavior needs to stop.
A friend of mine died yesterday. She was in her early 30’s. She did everything she was told to do in the name of losing weight for her “health”. Including weight loss surgery.
Yes, she lost a lot of weight. But to what advantage? She didn’t get to live the long and fruitful life that doctors promised her if she got “healthy” by losing all that weight.
Kath, I’m so sorry to hear about your friend. What a horrible loss.
Hi sorry for your lost just curious how she died was it form the weight loss surgery itself?
Bit crass of you to ask, but she died of an accidental overdose of the cocktail of medication she had to take post-wls to cope with the pain and malnutrition, compounded by the fact that she could not eat and had no food in her stomach. If she had been able to eat, the medication probably wouldn’t have killed her.
Wls is a difficult, painful, lifelong ordeal and isn`t for 99% of people who have it done, It isn`t for someone unhappy with themselves, or who wants “the fast way” to what they think will be a better life. I think it has it`s place as a “health procedure” not at all a cosmetic surgery. I must admit I used to become very angry at people who would say it was “cheating” I still think most who would say that are probably trying to be hurtful and must be very ignorant. My father had this surgery, a long time ago, so did my mother. my moms wasn`t a strictly weight oriented procedure, it was used as a tool to help with other health problems almost 20 yrs ago, she still throws up on a regular basis as a result of it. My dad had many other health factors that contributed to him being unable to get to a bearable weight, and I say this literally, I am a full supporter of healthy at any size, however he was unhealthy and his size made him unable to get healthy. It is a last resort for someone who is dyeing because of physical strain brought on by weight. If it were used for any other purpose, the person would soon find out it wasn`t worth the horrible pain, and the possible heath effects.
I am truly sorry for your loss Kathy I just saw your post and wanted to extend my deepest condolences.
I just realized I sound really judgmental, srry didn`t mean to come off that way, I don`t think everyone who dose it is “looking for a fast way” but I was just kind of scared for those who are and kinda wanted to point it out. I know it is praised as something of an extreme diet and was a little fired up at the thought of it.
I had WLS one year ago. I have lost a lot of weight. I was incredibly sick and weighed over 400 lbs. WLS is very risky and it is not a cure all. I have to be extra careful about what I eat. Nutrition comes first. It is a lot of hard work. However, it is a tool for those who were like me and morbidly obese with multiple health complications. I’m only 29 years old but I had diabetes, high blood pressure, intense unexplained swelling and severe hormonal issues. The swelling was so bad I wore house shoes to work because I couldn’t find shoes to fit. For two years not one doctor could tell me why. So you see, for me it was not a choice I wanted to make but I did it to live. I did not tell a soul because I was afraid of hearing some of the comments I see on this post. I love this blog and I think that fat acceptance is so hard to find. I’m still a fat chick and I rock it. But it makes me so sad to see the judgment given to people like me who have had surgery. When I was fatter I was judged and now that I’m healthier I’m judged for my route. I think that’s a shame. Insurance did not pay a dime on my surgery. I’m not advocating surgery for anyone, I just ask for some simple kindness and understanding.
Jennifer I don’t believe for one second that you are being judged for making the choice to have WLS. One of the concepts I have learnt through fat acceptance is that of body autonomy. That it is your right to do as you wish with your body, so long as you make an informed choice to do so.
However, what most FA activists object to, are the lies, false successes and clear financial bias that goes with WLS. Many, many people do not need WLS, but are convinced that it is their only option by unscrupulous doctors and marketing practices. This is what we object to. What FA aims to do is lay out ALL of the information so that people like yourself are able to make informed, unbiased choices for your body.
Kath, I agree. I do not feel judged on this site. However, in my everyday life I am judged on a daily basis. I think everyone is judged not matter what they look like. I love this blog and I just wanted another opinion to be posted about WLS. Yes, there is some terrible advertising. Yes, there are complications. I want to stress that I did a LOT of research before committing to surgery. And I want everyone who sees those unbelievable billboards to understand that that are exactly that. Unbelievable. Love and Peace to all, Jennifer.
I have had weight loss surgery, and FOR ME, it was one of the best decisions of my life. I went into it informed, having weighed the risks, and with confidence in my surgeon. The complications were not an issue for me because I knew I was essentially exchanging one set of medical issues for another, as part of the deal, and I was all right with that. That said, the billboards and the ads for WLS astonish and upset me, because that is exactly the opposite of the way this decision should ever be made – as a last resort, and with a lot of thought and gravity. The one on the subways has a cartoon of a jiggly stomach next to bright happy shiny promises about WLS. That is terrible. And I cans ee from some of the comments before me, a lot of people are already very misinformed about WLS, and what the experience is like,k and what is actually does – and doesn’t do. This is not an area where skimming past the information is possible. It will only end in dissatisfied people post-surgery and more misinformation spread.
I have a lapband. I have it put in May 2008. It was the biggest mistake of my life. I strongly encourage anyone looking into this alternative to seek other pathways to weight loss. Or better yet, just adopt HAES and put your dieting efforts into more pleasurable and meaninful experiences.
Aside from a bout of severe inflammation the week after surgery (and apparently I “caused” the infammation, because I stopped taking my paracetamol, not exactly true, but ok, whatever), I haven’t had any complications.
Accept that I can’t eat anything solid without having to bring it all back up–no matter how much I chew, no matter how small a bite I take. Although some days, even skim MILK will not go through–someone explain THAT one. The doctors don’t seem to be able to. Of course, they also think that when I say skim milk, I really mean ice cream. **roll eyes so hard they lodge in my ear canals**
Accept that I can’t make plans to go out to dinner with friends or family without knowing specifically where the restrooms are because it’s just a given that I will have to visit them 3-4 times over the course of a standard meal. Doesn’t matter what I choose to eat, it’s always a game of reverse Russian Roulette, where instead of loading one bullet in a chamber and spinning the cartridge, I take one bullet out of a fully loaded cartridge, spin it and hope that I get the empty chamber this time. Seriously. it is just like that.
Accept that everyone I know (thanks to my husband who can’t keep anything to himself) knows I have a lapband and ALL want to know when I’m going to lose weight. Because that’s what supposed to happen, right? You get the band, and then a week **voila!** later you’re skinny.
Because although I initially lost 20 kgs, I’ve put 13 of the back on. I have literally NO IDEA how, since I CAN NOT eat properly. I can only ingest probably 1/8 the amount I used to be able to, and at least 1/2 of that will come back up 95% of the time. So, sorry–calories in, calories out clearly isn’t my allie.
I’m still active. No I do not hit the gym, because I live in a small remote area and the gym is visited primarily by men, whom apparently do not know what deodorant/anti-persperant are–in short the whole gym smells like onions and general BO so bad you can taste it. No thanks, I’ll just walk more often and for longer distances.
My point is that, the lapband has been pretty nothing more than a waste of my time, and huge waste of my money (if you factor in the cost of the band and the surgery, plus the cost of all the food that winds up going down the toilet as ‘vomit’, it continues to cost me an arm and a leg)
I get so tired of having to explain WHY I’m not thin when I have ‘the magic band’ in me. Of course, the explainations given (which are usually given upon demand) are never believed. Not only am I fat, I’m a liar too!
It’s always a case of I “must not be doing it right”, I “must not be complying”. Clearly I am “just not trying hard enough” and don’t I know that I “have to make lifestyle changes?”
Well I don’t know how I’m not doing it “right”, because I’m doing everything I’ve been told to do by my doctors to become a lapband success.
I comply with all the “rules” as laid out by my surgeon.
I don’t know how much harder I have to try. and last but not least, I don’t know what other lifestyle changes to make–it seems my whole lifestyle is based around my lapband. It dictates everything that is involved with that life sustaining bad habit also known as eating and drinking.
Aside from just quitting my paying job and concentrating solely on my non-paying job of continued effort to achieve weightloss (because that’s what it is….it takes as much attention and effort as any paying job,y’all, but none of the benefits!)
I wish I could have it taken out, but since my “complications” are all my fault, I can’t have it removed without having to shell out of pocket (again) to have it taken out. I enquired the cost and it’s marginally smaller than the $15000 I shelled out to have the stupid thing put in. I’ve now decided that I’m just going to have it drained.
Is it a judgement to think of lap band as body modification for behavior modification that would be considered cruelty if used on an animal (but who would do that to an animal, can’t find cases with google)?
What about comparing it to a kinky lifestyle of dominance and submission where the bariatric surgeon is the master and patient is the slave?
My usual quote is “surgery that could kill you for your health”.
Otherwise anti fat medical community does treat fat people good in one department, bariatric (at least before check clears).
Ok, just one more, allegedly low mortality rate also known as human sacrifice to the gods of good health.
If you die, doctor’s lawyer will just say you were deathfat and it would have happened anyway, but no refunds!
I don’t know if all that is judgmental, but I’ve probably read about a few dozen deaths too many, and countless complaints of vomiting, hair loss, weight gain (refat), and anorexia like fear of eating (but anorexia is ok for fatties right?).
THANK YOU for posting about this. I attended a seminar two weeks ago on this very topic. I have been considering it for some time. I came out of the meeting, not happy and optimistic as I had hoped, but scared to death. And now reading your friend’s experience, I’ve decided that lab band surgery, or any other weight loss surgery, is not for me.
Congratulations on your other news too mama-to-be!!! :)
I am planning on having the Lap Band Surgery soon, my insurance will pay for it because of medical necessity due to being so overweight. I’ve done all the diets and gyms and such and it hasn’t done anything for me except make me loose a little weight then gain it all right back. There’s a reason diets don’t work, the word “die”. Anyhow; my mom had the gastric bypass way back before the lap band was as big as it is now. And yes she got sick and she couldn’t eat things; but if you remember people on the biggest loser got sick all the time and I’m not saying the Biggest loser isn’t the right way to go; however we all don’t have Bob or Jillian yelling in our face to get up and we all don’t take the same path. Do I think the Lap band is a risk, sure, any surgery is risky. But; living the lifestyle and at the weight I am is a huge risk too, and I don’t plan on continuing to live that way. Difference is, when you loose the weight the old fashion way….is you could gain it all right back as quick as you lost it. With the lap band you have a little more control. There are various Bariatric Surgeons out there and I would just recommend talking to someone who’s had it with one of them or researching them thoroughly. Well whatever everyone decides to go, good luck!
The lap band was the worst mistake of my entire life I have this alien inside of me and its making me sick every day….it comes out in a week due to constant pain can only eat ice cream, mashed potoates I have lost weight but not the healthy way. I vomit at least 5 times a day and my band has been unfilled for 2 years…
No matter how reputable a physician or clinic may be…remember you carry the risk of all the effects associated with the lap band. Its risky for your health no matter what. Good luck and blessings for a healthy life.
I have a friend who had the surgery. After the surgery they were constantly missing days at work. At first, when they finally came back to work, they looked pretty good. But, now they look like someone on crack or drugs. They are so fragile-looking, extremely thin, bags under their eyes, always looks very tired, and their hair is thinning trememdously. They really look horrible. I want to tell them how bad they really look, but I know they can see it for themselves by looking in the mirrow. I am so concerned about them. Please think very hard about having this type of surgery. From what I’ve seen, it’s not worth it.
I have a lapband and like the original poster lost in the first year (100 lbs), plateaued in the second year. Got pregnant in the third year, stayed on a strict diet through the pregnancy (gained 30 lbs)and have since lost that with diet and exercise. In the last year I have been to my lapland doc to get it “working” again about 10 times and each time get a fill with no effect. I had a barium swallow and endoscopy done but the results (according to doc) is that the band is in position, no pouch dilation and no erosion. They cannot give me an answer why it just stopped working post pregnancy. I have a 10 cc band and am at a 10 cc fill according to doc. I am barely maintaining my weight and am far FAR away from my goal weight and am lost as to what to do now. I hate this thing.