Lap-Band Weight-Loss Surgery Risks Not Fully Disclosed in Ads: FDA

Federal health regulators are warning surgical centers and a marketing company to stop posting misleading advertisements for gastric lap band procedures, which often herald the weight loss results of the medical implant without warning consumers about the serious risk of health problems and complications, which could include death. 

The FDA issued warning letters to eight surgical centers in California and the marketing firm 1-800-GET-THIN LLC, for misleading lap band advertisements on Monday.

Surgical centers that received the warning letters include Bakersfield Surgery Institute Inc.; Beverly Hills Surgery Center; Palmdale Ambulatory Center; Valley Surgical Center; Top Surgeons LLC; Valencia Ambulatory Center LLC; Cosmopolitan Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery; and San Diego Ambulatory Center LLC.

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The agency claims that all of the companies splashed California with billboards and eye-catching ads featuring slim people and touting the incredible weight loss potential if consumers undergo Lap-Band implant surgery. However, the ads fail to give adequate warnings about the Lap-Band weight-loss surgery risks, as required by federal law.

When the risks are included in the ads, the FDA indicates that the print is often far too small to actually be read by consumers.

The companies have 15 days to respond to the letters, telling the FDA how they intend to immediately correct their misleading ads. If they fail to do so, or fail to take action, they could face FDA penalties that could include product seizure or fines.

The Lap-Band, or laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, is a band placed around the upper part of the stomach that creates a small pouch which quickly fills with food. The band causes the person to feel full quickly, which may result in weight loss. However, the Lap-Band is linked to a number of complications, including erosion of the band through the stomach wall, the band moving out of position, nausea, vomiting, difficulty swallowing, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), abdominal pain, and leaking of the gastric band. In addition, recipients must change their eating habits, as they are unable to eat large meals and must eat a series of smaller meals throughout the day for the rest of their lives or until they have the band removed.

A recent study found that 60% of people who undergo gastric Lap-Band surgery could experience complications that require additional surgery and nearly half will eventually require the Lap-Band’s removal. Nearly a third discover that their bands have eroded the wall of their stomach over time, according to the study by Belgian researchers.

4 Comments

  • bunnieAugust 15, 2019 at 3:44 pm

    I had the surgery, everything went well for about 3 years. Then I started having horrible pain at the port site. I had to be rushed to emergency surgery to have everything removed. The port had eroded and become infected. I still can feel the effects of where the port was.

  • SarahJuly 14, 2015 at 5:03 pm

    I had my lap band installed 2007 did great lost over 100 pounds was able to keep it off with no problems , until 2013 started to have heartburn than vomiting was hospitalized on Christmas Eve with internal bleeding . Had the fill removed was told I had to wait six months to refill the band needless to say I could never tolerate a fill would get sick each time I had the fill . Had the band removed [Show More]I had my lap band installed 2007 did great lost over 100 pounds was able to keep it off with no problems , until 2013 started to have heartburn than vomiting was hospitalized on Christmas Eve with internal bleeding . Had the fill removed was told I had to wait six months to refill the band needless to say I could never tolerate a fill would get sick each time I had the fill . Had the band removed under the recommendation of my phycian in October 2014 . I have gained the weight back and I am waiting to have gastric bypass surgery which is what I wanted to begin with but my phycian talked me into getting the lap band was never told about the side effects, so I'm out of pocket for the lap band . I also spent Christmas in the hospital away from my family I would not recommend lap band to anyone.

  • JanSeptember 5, 2013 at 4:33 am

    I had lapband surgery 10/2009....started gettting sick 11/09...dr wpuld not listen. When i went for 1st fill it had turned had to have 2nd surgery 12/09. One week later passed bloodclots and almost died. I was healthy and now have Crohns Disease. I had to have my whole colon removed 07/12. I am on government disability. I am sick every day. I found out AFTER THE SURGERY I was not a condidat[Show More]I had lapband surgery 10/2009....started gettting sick 11/09...dr wpuld not listen. When i went for 1st fill it had turned had to have 2nd surgery 12/09. One week later passed bloodclots and almost died. I was healthy and now have Crohns Disease. I had to have my whole colon removed 07/12. I am on government disability. I am sick every day. I found out AFTER THE SURGERY I was not a condidate. My thyroid is dead and my Grandmother had Lupus. I could not find a dr to help me but now i see all the issues coming to light. Please help me.

  • Cynthia MApril 12, 2012 at 2:40 am

    I got a lap band when they first came out from The Wish Center, at first I was very happy, I lost around a hundred pounds over the first year... I then started having serious heartburn as well as open sores starting to show up on my back after about 18 months and not only did I quit losing weight, I started throwing up pretty much everything I ate. I wanted to have my band checked out only to fin[Show More]I got a lap band when they first came out from The Wish Center, at first I was very happy, I lost around a hundred pounds over the first year... I then started having serious heartburn as well as open sores starting to show up on my back after about 18 months and not only did I quit losing weight, I started throwing up pretty much everything I ate. I wanted to have my band checked out only to find out that The Wish Center had just "disappeared" by locking the doors, not even the doctors knew it was coming. So I suffered and suffered for a few more years until I finally found someone to take out my fluid. I was told let it rest for 6 weeks and you will be back to normal. Well, things have gotten even worse, I have put on 50 pounds, I do not throw up anymore but now I have trouble swallowing and my heartburn is worse than ever and the sores have not gone anywhere. I WANT my band removed because I believe it is slowly killing me. If it was such a great product why did The Wish Center abandon its patients without referring us to new doctors? I cannot believe no one will remove this thing out of my body so I can have a normal life again. Biggest mistake I ever made!

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