I am 20 months post op and have reached my original goal of 200 pounds. I have recently had some excessive stress and my band tightened up because of it so all of my saline was removed. I can eat anything I want now and I have no pain. My dr. did an UGI and it showed something like gristle near my band (scar tissue maybe?). Now I have to have a scope. If I am able to eat and do not have any pain and the band hasn't slipped or eroded, is there any reason to remove the band?