Kristina J.

I was originally banded in 2003 at just 18. I was 250, got down to 170, had a slip, erosion and removal. When my band was replaced a year later, I had gained everything back, plus some and was at 270. I lost about 60 with my second band and started the roller coaster cycle that continued for 7 more years. Up 40, down 20, up 20, down 10, up 60, down 20... And after having my kids and looking at turning 30 in the worst shape of my life, I decided to revise to a sleeve. The day I decided to revise is my before picture. Thanksgiving 2012. I was 270lbs at 5'1. I busted my butt and was at 230 the day of surgery, May 11, 2013. Today, 14 months out, I'm at 125 and couldn't be happier. Maintenance is hard of course, but so far, it's actually easier than I thought it would be. So much easier than it was with my Lapband. I don't post much anymore because life has gotten so busy now that I have so much more energy. But I always loved before and afters, especially of revisions, when I was pre-op. I was told and feared that I wouldn't be as successful because I was a revision, but it just wasn't true. Bust your butt, use your sleeve and follow the rules, and revisions have just as much chance at success as "virgin sleevers." So here it is: HW: 270 SW: 230 Surgeon's Goal: 150 My Goal: 135 CW: 125

Thank you!!

14 months post op, band to sleeve revision! HW: 270 SW: 230 CW: 125!!

I'm down 60 since surgery, so with my 40 pre-op, I'm officially down 100lbs now!!!!!

I had pretty much the exact thing you're asking about! Lol I was banded in '03 and lost 100lbs. I was within 20lbs of goal. Weight was creeping back on and we discovered a slip in '05. I had to have my band removed at that time because of erosions. I was actually rebanded a year later after gaining back all the 100 I had lost, plus another 20!! With the second band, I was like most revisions, where I just never had much success. I lost 60, gained 20. Lost 40, gained 30. I went on like that for 7 years before finally getting a revision to sleeve in May this year. I've been really successful, and as of today, I've lost 100lbs and am just 20 from goal again!! And if I can do it, anyone can! I work hard, but weight loss has always been a struggle for me. Feel free to inbox me if you have more questions, since I think I'm kinda the exact situation you were looking for! Lol

5 months out, down 99lbs, including pre-op! HW: 270 SW: 230 CW: 171

Thanks so much everyone!!!

Friday will be 5 months since surgery! I haven't posed much lately since my new less fat butt is out and about way more these days, but here are some progress pictures! They were always my favorite thing to see when I was pre-op!! It's amazing to finally feel "normal" again. I lost 40 in the 4-5 months pre op, and another 57 since surgery, putting me at a loss of 97lbs. I feel like a whole new person. I'm a better mom, wife, friend and just a better, happier, person all around!!

Wow! Thank you all SO much. I am so thankful for my new life. The husband has lost 43lbs just from changing his eating habits along side mine. Why the hell is it so much easier for him?!? Haha I am so lucky to have his support, and all the support I've found here!! I seriously can't believe that I'M now one of the people posting these pictures. I would stay up late at night, pre-op, looking at people's progress pictures, just praying that I would have even a fraction of their success. It's amazing what we're capable of with the right help!! Xoxoxo Thanks again so much everyone!!!

Surgery date, May 11, 2013 with Dr. Garcia in Mexico! HW (January/February of 2013): 270 SW: 230 CW: 173 Goal: 150 I set my goal kinda high for my height (only 5'1), but if I'm still losing, I would mind settling around 130-140!

I use spaghetti squash a lot too!! There are tons of how to's online, but when I put sauce on it, I don't notice much difference!! The quinoa Pasta sounds good, but I'm still pretty lazy to think about making my own pasta! Hahahaha That zucchini spiral slicer is awesome too. I found one on Amazon for a great price!!

Glad to hear it was waived. Prolapse was a big issue for me and the issue that led to my revision. Once you've prolapsed once, it tends to happen again and again! Trust me, I would know! lol Congratulations on your approval!!

I revised in May and couldn't be happier. It was terrifying but has 100% saved my life and I no longer have to puke everyday or worry about whether or not I can get water down some days. I feel normal for the first time in my life, and while I had success with my band, up until it slipped, this has been like starting all over. I've lost almost 100lbs total and couldn't be happier with my results and don't have to worry about complications that would make me empty/remove my band and go back to where I was before. This is permanent and it feels permanent. The fear is gone and I can enjoy the new me!!

I stuck to my lifting limits as much as possible for the first 6 weeks. I recruited help and used it!! But with my kids 2 & 3 when I revised, I knew that any temporary inconvenience would be far outweighed by the untold number of extra years I will now get with them. I am a better mom now. I am a more active mom and the kid of mom they deserve. My weight no longer holds my kids back, and that has, by far, been the best reward in their whole journey!!!

I heard that through word of mouth (not my doctors) before my revision. It did scare me, but for me, having struggled with the band for 10 years and not being able to eat the healthy foods, I have found the sleeve to be everything the band promised to be without the constant vomiting and pain leading me to sliders. When I did actually ask my surgeon about it, his response was that you can take any group of WLS patients and find those that didn't have success. He said that for banders, that percentage is very high, but generally more from complications, where as with sleevers (revision or "virgin") that failure tends to come more from not being willing to make the major lifestyle changes. Attitudes like, "I eat the same, just less of it." Or, "I am losing so obviously it's working even though I eat bad foods sometimes still." I think a couple of people hit the nail on the head saying that banders generally learn to eat around their band, a lot of the time out of necessity. But like ANY sleever, the best way to set yourself for success is to decide that this is the tool that will help you change your life and become the healthy person you always wanted to be. I'm no angel, and I do cheat a little sometimes, but never with a justification that "I didn't do this to live on a diet." I cheat a little here and there to keep from going off the deep end and living on slider foods, like I know I could do. So while I don't know for sure if there's any truth to the idea that revisions don't lose as much, I do know that this surgery can be a life saving move, when coupled with hard work and life changes. And for me? I'm almost 5 months out and down a total of 97lbs since I scheduled (I had a very experienced revision surgeon and zero complications). So if my hard work and determination makes me an exception to the "lose less" rule, I'll take it. I did enough research pre-op to know that the success stories for revisions AND virgin sleeves were the people that changes their lives completely and not just their stomachs!!

It's a great list for surgeries that go well, which is most of them! But, in cases where it goes wrong, not only is there the whole "risk of death" thing, but there are a bunch of other possible complications. Not that it's something to focus on pre-op, but if you really want to know what you could be getting into, best to cruise the complications forum. A leak could mean months in the hospital. A stricture could mean multiple procedures to dilate. Complications could lead to revision to another surgery. Just something to keep in mind when going over "worst case scenarios."

A lapband isn't the answer. Just take a look in the "band to sleeve" forum here. The band is a world of problems that will only make things harder. You need to do what you and your surgeon decide is best, but please be aware of the multitude of complications that come with the band alone. I can't imagine those get any better when banding a sleeve. :-/

Hahaha Nerd. My kid is gonna love that one.

Well when I had dilation and prolapse, my band was emptied for 3 months to heal. After 3 months it looked much better and we started re-filling again. So it made sense to me that if I emptied it again before my revision, that it would be in better condition, therefore making my surgery easier. I emptied 2 months pre-op, and had a great single surgery revision. Almost 3 months out now from my single surgery revision. Surgery itself was a breeze (50 minutes) and my recovery after has been pretty easy the whole time. That being said though, there are doctors that just don't believe a single surgery revision is ever safe and won't do them. I was self pay, so the possibility for a safe single surgery was very important to me. In your case, it's frustrating, but best to just listen to your surgeon. Patience is a necessary evil all the way through this journey. Consider it some extra practice Best of luck!!!!

Kejohnson83 It's mostly pictures of my kids lol but some progress pics too! Haha

So proud of you Lawrence!!! You are always such a source of inspiration for me, both physically and mentally!! Nice work friend!!! You look so handsome!!!! :-)

Holy hell that's a longer post than I realized! Haha And I typed it on my phone!! lol I wonder how long I've been typing?!? HAHAHAHA And as far as Chris Christie... It doesn't really seem like he's lost much, however, most banders don't start losing until they've had a series of fills. Though, I imagine he's far enough out to be at that point by now. Not looking good for the whole "walking billboard thing" they seem to have been going for...