A common myth that bariatric patients face is that they are unable to become pregnant after bariatric surgery. This is partially true after some weight loss surgeries, but the LAP-BAND® System is a safe method for women who want to become pregnant. Here’s how LAP-BAND can improve your fertility and help you conceive:

Adjusts for Pregnancy

As always, women who think they are pregnant should not undergo bariatric surgery. Unlike other bariatric surgery options, LAP-BAND is an adjustable gastric band that can be adjusted. This is essential for women who become or want to become pregnant after bariatric surgery.

Reduces complications

During pregnancy, mothers and their babies are susceptible to several complications including, gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension and large-for-gestational-age infants. LAP-BAND helps reduce the likelihood of these complications from occurring by monitoring the mother’s weight. Since obesity is a common factor of many of these complications, habits implemented after bariatric surgery may prove to be beneficial in helping keep off excess weight off during pregnancy.

Stomach stapling has more complications

By using a gastric band, LAP-BAND Patients are less likely to endure certain complications. According to one study, bypass patients are more likely to experience venous thromboembolism, need for an intervention or even death compared to LAP-BAND Patients. Overall, there is less risk associated with gastric band surgery versus other bariatric surgery methods.

Fertility can be directly impacted by weight, so LAP-BAND can actually cause a mother to become more fertile after surgery. In addition, these mothers can also safely carry a baby to term with fewer complications than other weight loss surgery methods. If you plan on expanding your family, consider LAP-BAND as a weight-loss option.