Yes, that's exactly what they mean. They had the band and now are having a revision surgery to the sleeve. If you read the forum band to sleeve revisions, you'll probably get a lot of information. Also you can check out the revision forum on obesityhelp.com and/or the complications forum on lapbandtalk.com. Good luck to both of you on your journeys. I never had the band, but there are quite a few on here who have and can probably give you more information.

Yeppers, I had a band, it destroyed my stomach tissue, had a flipped port from early on that caused the tubing to pull on my stomach. The band was and is a nightmare. Statistically, it has the slowest and lowest weight loss. Have your friend check out the complication forum on lapbandtalk.com

The complications are on the rise for the band. I don't regret the decision to have my band. It taught me a lot about myself and my eating habits. Check out the Failed Weight loss forum on obesityhelp.com

And don't believe all the "well you didn't work your band" replies from the people who are content with their bands. I worked my band until it started literally ripping apart my stomach tissue.

There are many of us on the boards that had to have our bands removed due to complications.

Susan

Annak4

Oregondaisy

Myself

3636millie

Shontel

Fabby50

There's a few more but those are the ones I can think of off the top of my head.

My mom has a band. She has had it since Nov 2007, and she has only lost 75pounds. She's gone through numerous fills and unfills, and she pukes 2-4 times a week. Some days she can eat solid food, other days it all gets stuck then she has to go back on liquids. Of course, she just thinks this is normal. She has about 35-40 pounds to lose, and she's been stalled for 15 months. Plus, she does moderate exercise.

If you friend is okay with slow weight loss, and the countless long term complications such as erosion, slippage, food getting stuck, sliming, productive burping, and esophageal dialation, the list goes on and on. The sleeve has a higher risk for complications within the first 6 weeks. With the band even the manufacturer and the FDA can't guarantee that the band will last more than 5 years.

Thanks Tiffykins and DeeDee I will give this info to my friend he is still trying to decide