Allergy/Reaction to Metal or Silicone

maygetbanded · 04-26-2006, 08:47 PM

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** · 04-27-2006, 06:29 AM

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 · 04-27-2006, 08:29 PM

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.

As well, someone sent me a private message that i was unable to open due to a pop-up blocker. If you'd like to email your message instead, i'd be happy to hear from you. thedesignstar@hotmail .com

maygetbanded · 04-27-2006, 08:36 PM

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** · 04-28-2006, 06:38 AM

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

Teresa Williams · 03-07-2008, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maygetbanded

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.