I have had my band for almost three years and have been at my goal weight for the past year. After getting the band, I went to the doctor each month for "a fill." The band would stay tight until the end of the month....by the time I went to my next appointment, I was ready for another fill. One time, about a year after getting the band I returned home after a fill and found that I could eat anything. I had no restriction. When I returned to the doctor, the told me I had "sprung a leak." We discussed my options and decided to take the first option which was to substute the saline they typically use for a fill with another...thicker...solution. It didn't look thick to me, but whatever it was, it was great. That was the last time I needed a fill. It's been two years now and whatever he filled me with...filled the leak and has never evaporated.