Vertical-banded gastroplasty disadvantages

• Needs strict patient compliance to diet
• High fiber foods and foods with a more dense, natural consistency can become very difficult to eat, while highly refined foods cause little discomfort. Most people who regain any weight lost after surgery do so because choosing "healthier" foods are harder to digest, while "junk" food pass easily.
• VBG is in no way a magic bullet or pill. It must be emphasized that lifestyle changes, i.e. diet Vertical-banded Gastroplasty and exercise, are absolutely imperative for weight loss to occur and be maintained. Realistic expectations are imperative.
• Reversal of a VBG requires a much more complex and intensive surgical process than getting the VBG. When removal of a polyurethane band is involved (polyurethane was predominantly used in the 1980s and 90s), it likely has built substantial scar tissue that must also be removed, depending on how long ago the VBG took place. Removal of the staples involves stitching the previously separated parts of the stomach back together. For these reasons, a reversal should only be considered if there are serious medical complications.
• Vomiting and severe discomfort if food is not properly chewed or if food is eaten too quickly.
• As with any surgical procedure, there are risks of complications. It has been observed that approximately one in every hundred patients undergoing VBG die within a year. There may also be other medical complications down the road, but the risk is relatively low
• Not adjustable