Lapband Allergy Symptoms
The Lap-Band is a revolutionary system to help people lose weight by helping to reduce the amount of food their stomach can hold. It involves minor surgery, called laparoscopy, that places an adjustable band around the entrance of the stomach. It has a control to reduce the amount of food the stomach can hold so weight loss is safe and gradual. As with anything foreign introduced into a body, there can be an allergic reaction to the Lap-Band. Though allergic reactions to the Lap-Band are rare, the symptoms are similar to plastic allergy symptoms.
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Materials in Lap-Band
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The Lap-Band is comprised of silicon and titanium products to provide the structure, support and elasticity needed to be functional. These materials are used because they contain the properties needed to make the Lap-Band an effective gastric constrictor. Additionally, they are used because there is a small incident rate of people being allergic to these materials, which have been used for decades in joint replacement and breast augmentation.
Knowing symptoms to silicone or plastic allergies prior to the Lap-Band implantation is imperative to preventing a life-threatening reaction requiring emergency surgery. Since the Lap-Band is inserted in the body, not knowing a patient has this type of plastic allergy can be extremely dangerous.
Symptoms
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As with all allergies an allergic reaction to the Lap-Band can start with minor irritations such as itchy skin, redness or rashes that appear on the external area of the implant. Symptoms that suggest a more intense reaction are hives, edema, dizziness or fainting. A person can experience nausea or stomach cramping along with diarrhea as growing symptoms of an allergy to the Lap-Band. Extreme symptoms are swelling of the lips and throat with asthmatic symptoms, such as difficulty breathing. At worst, a person may go into anaphylactic shock, which is a collapse of the cardiovascular system. In this case, an Epi-Pen or shot of adrenaline would be used to stimulate the system. Patients should see their doctor if allergy symptoms manifest.
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Symptoms Compared to Infection
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Many of the symptoms of an allergic reaction to the Lap-Band and an infection are the same or can be similarly manifested since the body interprets allergens as invaders it must fight off. There are subtle differences: if the implant is warm, aching, with redness and a possible rash, there may be an allergy. A fever with the area hot to the touch at the incision point also accompanied with redness, streaking and malaise moving through the body is associated with an infection. Patients should seek a doctor's consultation immediately if any of these symptoms appear.
Allergy Test
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If there is a possibility that a patient will be allergic to the silicone in the Lap-Band, it is well worth the time to test them ahead of time. The most common way to test for a plastic allergy is to use a skin-prick test. In this method, plastic is introduced to the skin in an area that will be monitored to watch for symptoms in a localized area. If the patient exhibits allergic symptoms post-operative without any prior allergy known, an in vitro test will be done. A blood sample is taken from the patient and then tested to see if antibodies specific to plastic are present.
Titanium
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Most allergies to the lap band are associated with silicone. Titanium is also part of the structure of the Lap-Band. It has been used with great success in joint replacements and as surgical pins. While some people may complain of problems in an area where a titanium component has been implanted, confirmed allergic reactions are very rare. Symptoms from a titanium allergy would include burning localized around the implant with eczema and aching.
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