In addition to the complications associated with every surgical intervention, a few specific problems can crop up after the gastric band procedure:

• Eating too much or ingesting food to quickly increases the risk of the band slipping out of position and/or the new top stomach pouch from expanding. This can result in reduced weight loss and in some cases it can be necessary to operate again.
• Since the opening of the gastric band is very narrow, larger pieces of food can get stuck in the stomach pouch above the band. This will result in a complete blockage of the opening and lead to vomiting. In this case your surgeon or treating doctor will have to empty the gastric band via the injection port. The piece of food may even have to be removed by endoscopy.
• The band can grow into the stomach [erosion/migration]. Erosion usually occurs when too much fluid is injected into the band. This causes excess pressure and irritation of the stomach wall and leads to erosion. It is therefore recommended not to inject more than 9 ml into the SAGB. An infection around the injection port can also cause erosion.
• Problems can arise with the injection port and tube:
  • loosening of the tube connecting the port to the band
  • infection of the injection port [consult your doctor if you experience pain or reddening around the injection port].
  • when injecting into the band the tube can be pricked leading to leakage of the tube

These problems are usually solved under local anaesthetic
Although extremely rare, the band can start to leak. In this case, the SAGB can be very easily replaced with a new one.