MRI, scans, other procedures and pregnancy with a Lap-Band

MRI, scans, other procedures and pregnancy with a Lap-Band

Yes, you can usually have an MRI, a CT scan, an endoscopy or another operation with a Lap-Band in place. The manufacturer classes the band as "MR Conditional," which means MRI is allowed only within set scanner limits. For every procedure, tell the team about your band and port. If you become pregnant, contact your band team, because the band may need to be loosened.

MRI with a Lap-Band

The band itself is silicone. The tubing connector and the access port, the small chamber under the skin used for fills, contain stainless steel. According to the manufacturer's MRI information, these parts are not strongly pulled by the magnet, but the radio waves an MRI uses can heat metal, which is why scans must follow set conditions.

The manufacturer lists these conditions for scanning a patient with the Lap-Band System:

Condition	Limit stated by the manufacturer
Magnet strength	1.5 tesla or 3.0 tesla
Maximum spatial field gradient	40 T/m (4,000 gauss/cm)
Operating mode	Normal Operating Mode
Whole-body averaged SAR (heating measure)	2 W/kg
Scan duration	Up to 60 minutes of continuous radiofrequency exposure at that SAR
Image quality	The implant causes an artifact (a blurred area) near it

These limits are for the MRI technologist and radiologist to apply, not for you to check. Your job is to say, when you book and again at screening, that you have a Lap-Band. Bring your implant card or records if you have them. The manufacturer says the band does not need to be removed before an MRI.

One note for older paperwork: the labeling the FDA approved in 2011 described the band as MRI safe at 3 tesla or lower, using older wording. The current manufacturer page uses the "MR Conditional" category with the limits above. If your band is an older model, ask the imaging center to confirm the conditions for your specific device.

CT scans and X-rays

The FDA-approved labeling describes the access port as visible on X-ray and compatible with diagnostic imaging, including CT scanning, with a minimal "halo" effect from the stainless steel connector. In practice this means the port and tubing show up on images. Telling the technologist about your band helps the radiologist read the images correctly, especially of the upper abdomen.

Endoscopy and colonoscopy

An upper endoscopy, where a thin camera is passed through the mouth into the stomach, is one of the standard ways to look at the area around a band. The 2019 guidelines published with ASMBS list endoscopic or X-ray evaluation as part of working up poor weight loss in band patients. Tell the gastroenterologist that you have a band so the findings above and below it are interpreted with that in mind, and send any reports to your band team. Our guide to tests for Lap-Band problems explains what an endoscopy and an upper GI X-ray each show.

For a colonoscopy, the bowel preparation usually means drinking a large amount of liquid. If your band is tight enough that liquids go down slowly, mention this to whoever orders the prep, and contact your band team before the date.

Other surgery and anesthesia

Tell every surgeon and anesthesiologist that you have a band and where your port sits. The FDA labeling warns that the port should sit away from areas likely to be affected by later surgery, because damage or movement can make fills impossible. Abdominal operations near the port or tubing need particular care.

Pain control after surgery matters too. The FDA labeling says aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may irritate the stomach and may be linked to a higher risk of band erosion, and the 2019 guidelines list avoiding NSAIDs for band patients. Ask your surgeon for a pain plan that accounts for this, and mention any recent band symptoms at your next yearly band checkup.

Pregnancy with a band

The FDA labeling says a band should not be placed in someone who is or may be pregnant, and that patients who become pregnant after placement may require their bands to be deflated. The 2019 guidelines recommend band adjustments as necessary for appropriate weight gain for the baby's health. They also advise avoiding pregnancy for 12 to 18 months after a bariatric operation.

Nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy deserve attention. The labeling says frequent, severe vomiting can stretch the pouch, cause the stomach to slip through the band or widen the esophagus, and that deflating the band is indicated in those situations. Tell both your obstetrician and your band team as soon as you know you are pregnant. For general eating and lifestyle questions, see life with a Lap-Band.

When to call

Call the office before a planned MRI, operation or colonoscopy if you are unsure what to tell the team, if you are pregnant, or if vomiting is making it hard to keep food down.

Go to an emergency room or call 911 if you cannot keep liquids or saliva down, are vomiting blood, have severe chest or abdominal pain, or have a fever with a red, swollen port site. See Lap-Band emergency warning signs for more detail.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need my band taken out or emptied before an MRI?

The manufacturer's MRI information says the band does not need to be removed before an MRI, and it does not call for emptying the band either. What it requires is that the scan follows the MR Conditional limits. Tell the imaging center about the band when you book, so they can confirm their scanner and settings fit those limits.

Will my band show up on a CT scan?

Yes. The FDA labeling describes the port as visible on X-ray and compatible with CT scanning, with a small halo effect around the stainless steel connector. The band, tubing and port are expected findings. Let the technologist know about the band so the radiologist does not mistake those parts for something unexpected.

Should my band be loosened if I am pregnant?

Often, but not automatically. The FDA labeling says pregnant patients may require deflation, and the 2019 guidelines advise adjusting the band as needed so you gain enough weight for the baby's health. Your band team and obstetrician decide together, based on how you are eating, your weight gain and whether you are vomiting.

Do I need to tell a dentist or dermatologist about my band?

For most minor procedures the band makes no difference, but it belongs on your medical history everywhere. It matters most when a procedure involves sedation, the abdomen, imaging, or pain medicines. Listing it routinely means no one has to guess when you need care in a hurry.

Talk with Dr. Davtyan in Rancho Cucamonga

If you have a scan, operation or pregnancy coming up and want your band checked first, Dr. David G. Davtyan, MD, FACS, FICS, FASMBS, sees patients at 8330 Red Oak Street, Suite 201, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730. Call 909-355-2525 or toll free 877-9-BE-SLIM (877-923-7546); the first consultation is complimentary and Spanish is spoken. You can also use the contact page, or read more in the Lap-Band in Rancho Cucamonga guide.

MRI, scans, other procedures and pregnancy with a Lap-Band