I am one of the lucky bandsters where everything that could go wrong, went wrong! I got the band when I was 20 yrs old. Surgeon was horrible, had to have a port revision surgery when I was 21. Had the go around with fills... didn't have any for months when they thought they had, to overfilling me and taking everything out of my band. I had my band-sleeve conversion two weeks ago and I had so much scar tissue on my stomach and liver from the placement of the band that they couldn't do the sleeve because of the swelling. After 3 surgeries with the lapband I am finally going to have the sleeve on August 26! I am so happy and excited! I am 25 now and know this is just going to make my life so much better in the long run! My surgeon said the pain from my removal surgery is going to be pretty equivalent to the sleeve, but I'm not sure I buy it lol. How was everyone's pain level? Any advice for after surgery?