Expert: Diminishing Dawn - 8/31/2008

Question
I had pancreatitis last year due to gall stones, in which a pseudocyst developed.  The surgeon drained the cyst into my abdomen and removed my gall bladder.  Will this prevent me from having the lap band done due to scar tissue on the abdomen?

Answer
I am by no means an expert in Lapbanding, however, I am knowledgeable enough to know that adhesions/scar tissue can be a factor in the termination of a Lapband procedure.  It all seems to depends on how much scar tissue there is and where the primary location is and whether it interferes or not with placement of the lapband itself.

Some surgeons require patients to have surgery to remove excess scar tissue before Lapband procedures are done, some will attempt it and terminate it if there is too much scar tissue, and some will recommend waiting on a newer procedure that may come in the years to come.

This is something that you'd really need to talk with a lapband surgeon for and share specifics with if you know the extent, scope and location of the scar tissue.

Good luck,

Dawn