Allergy/Reaction to Metal or Silicone

maygetbanded · April 27, 2006

I am thinking about getting banded. I read some posts about reactions to metal staples. I have a question....

has anyone experienced a reaction to the silicone or titanium components of the lap band? (i was told at the toronto lap band center that the lap band is made from hard silicone, and the port is titanium)

i'd appreciate any answer.

Alexandra · April 27, 2006

The silicone is non-reactive, I've never heard of anyone having a reaction to it. It wouldn't be the material of choice for medical implants if that weren't the case.

And just last night at a new patient seminar, someone asked about having an allergy to titanium. The doctors were surprised--evidently it's HIGHLY unusual for someone to have a reaction to titanium. But evidently Inamed makes a band without titanium in it, so if you know you have a titanium allergy there is another kind they can order for you.

maygetbanded · April 28, 2006

Alex... THANKS so much for the tip about Inamed. I'm not sure if i'm allergic to Titanium, but i do react very badly to almost all other metals, so i'd prefer to NOT have metal in me.

maygetbanded · April 28, 2006

Aleaxandra (or anyone)...

Do you know what Inamed uses in place of Titanium? Is it 100% hard silicone? Or how may i access such information myself) (they're NOT very helpful at the TLBC. My emails about this questions have been ignored/filed away, hence i'm doing the research myself.)

Thanks!

Alexandra · April 28, 2006

Try writing to don.mills @ inamed.com with that question. He's a very helpful guy. :grouphug:

Teresa Williams · March 7, 2008

:crying:

I am thinking about getting banded. I read some posts about reactions to metal staples. I have a question....
has anyone experienced a reaction to the silicone or titanium components of the lap band? (i was told at the toronto lap band center that the lap band is made from hard silicone, and the port is titanium)

i'd appreciate any answer.

Hi, I have the same concern. People do have allergic reactions to nearly anything foreign put into their bodies as their immune system recognizes it as non self. These reactions can take several forms however an autoimmune reaction entailing stiff joints in the fingers similar to arthritis was experienced by myself from the "inert" mesh (made by the manufacurers of gortex) for a hernia repair. This and a low grade fever and the fact that the mesh never bonded to the repair and I ended up oozing out serous Fluid led my surgeon to remove it. Silicone has been the subject of much autoimmune scrutiny with auto immune reactions from breast implants etc. So I say buyer beware. Don't let anyone tell you silicone or mesh is non reactive. We are reactive. I am a nursing student also.

cranberry31 · October 6, 2010

of course you can react to silicone, 3 months after my band 2 1/2 years ago i developed hives, itching and rashes which will not go away. i have to take zyrtec and benadryl every single day for intense itching, i am pretty certain my body is reacting to the band material. I have never had any skin issues in my life prior to banding, now i am scarred from the scratching.