genepha

Yeah! Please let us know how everything goes. Glad u r happy with ur decision!

Anna, I honestly think that most people who have the plication consider the gastrectomy as well. I know that I have considered the VSG along with the plication. I, like Tiffykins, also have a band and never thought of it as anything but permanent until the band started giving me problems. Now my band has to be removed and I'm left with VSG or GSP as RNY is not an option for me (I probably wound't have it anyway as I personally don't like the RNY for me). Lucikly I am able to revise to a different surgery. I think Cknorte has lost about 60 lbs and wanted to lose around 100 lbs. total. I also would like to lose about 100 lbs. When I was banded in 2001 there were many naysayers about the band's effectiveness. I did lose 110 lbs. with the band and kept it off for about 7 years. Once I started having problems (and being on 5 months of bed rest while pregnant with my daughter) I did regain some weight, however, I think I learned that WLS is just a tool. Some tools work better for some people and I am hopeful that plication will work for me. I think what help me choose the plication over the VSG was to look at each surgery long-term. The idea of living for another 40-50 years without 80% of my stomach freaked me out. I think a lot of people who've had VSG go through this and it's something that everyoen must deal with on their own terms, but for me that was something that I just was not comfortable with. Although after reading Tiffykins posts I am always encouraged, motivated and excited to be (re)embarking on my WLS journey. genepha approved for lapband removal self-pay plication surgery date: February, 2011

Olivia, I think these numbers are pretty standard for WLS. As we know WLS is a tool and a lot depends on how you choose to use your tool. Some stats for plication: Mean percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL) was calculated to be 20%EWL at 1 month, 32%EWL at 3 months, 48%EWL at 6 months, 60%EWL at 12 months and 62%EWL at 18 months. http://www.gastricwrap.com/images/pdf/Plication-PDF.pdf Here are some stats for lapband: During the last 4 years, the %EWL is in the region of 53-57 %EWL. http://www.core.monash.org/assets/documents/lapband-results-700-patients.pdf Some stats for VSG: Mean EWL was 62% (45% to 77%) in after 18 months. http://www.gastricwrap.com/images/pdf/Plication-PDF.pdf Some stats for the RNY: Mean percent of excess weight loss (%EWL) was 20%, 48%, 64% and 67% at 1, 6, 12 and 24 months respectively. 89% of patients had at least a 50% EWL at 1 year postoperatively. http://www.ischemic.net/showabstract.php?pmid=15479593

Olivia, I just wanted to let you know that if you go onto Dr. Ortiz's website he has some links to the Brazilian studies that were done with the plication. I believe there are also some Greek and Iranian studies done. In addition the plication is being performed now in the U.S. under clinical trials by Dr. Ponce in Georgia. Personal stories are important too and I hope some people will share their own experiences. Here is some information from one of the studies: Results: TGVP was performed in 100 cases (mean age, 32; standard error of the mean = 2.1); mostly female (F/M = 76/24) and with average body mass index of 47 (36–58). The mean weight loss in our patients was 21.4% of excessive weight loss (EWL) 1 month after the operation, 54% after 6 months (72 cases), 61% after 12 months (56 cases), 60% after 24 months (50 cases), and 57% after 36 months (11 cases). The average time of follow-up was 18 months. The mean time of operation was 98 (70–152) minutes and all of the patients were discharged from the hospital after an average of 1.3 days (range, 1–4). The volume of the stomach in this condition was 100 cc, but just one half of it was effective. Conclusions: The percentage of excessive weight loss (EWL) in this technique is comparable to other restrictive methods, but EWL appears more rapidly. Early postoperative complications of this method are minimal, without any important late complications. This technique needs more expertise and is more time consuming. A long-term follow-up is advised.

Hi all! I just found out that my dr was able to get my insurance to pay for my lapband replacement or removal! They had denied it last week and after an appeal and peer review - he got it approved!! I will self pay for the plication. Yipppeee!! After the denial, I was trying to prepare myself to fight for the sleeve gastrectomy but now I don't have to! What a relief! Since this is my 3rd surgery (band, hernia and port replaced previously) I'm not too nervous about post-op but now I'm feeling anxious about having ANOTHER surgery. I have 2 little ones at home, a career and a husband but I'm doing this for me and to make my life better with them! Ok - any advice from those of you that have had plication would be helpful! Thanks VSP family! genepha

Hi Karen, Thanks~ I just found out today that I am scheduled for pre-op stuff Jan. 27 and my surgery will be Feb. 7. Now it has hit me that I'm going to have to go through another surgery - 2 in 6 months but hopefully this will be my last! I have to do 2 days of liquids before surgery but I'm not sure yet what the post-op diet will consist of. I'm guessing a couple weeks of liquids, full liquids, mushies, etc. I'm not too nervous about the post-op as I've already had a band so I think I've got the eating and chewing down! genepha

Olivia, I just got my date today - Feb. 7th! We are close so we can freak out together!!! I'm excited but also nervous as heck!!! This will be my 3rd major surgery - 2 in the past 6 months so I'm really freakin' out! I was banded in 2001 and my band needs to be removed or replaced. I was lucky enough to find a dr. here in CA who has started performing plication. He hasn't done many of them but I am very comfortable with his experience, skill and his patients have good things to say about him. I have gone to both Drs. Corvala and Ortiz (they were partners at one time) for fills and unfills and found both of them to be knowledgeable and professional, however, I believe Dr. Corvala has more experience performing the plication. Again, Dr. Ortiz is very experienced with other forms of bariatric surgery as well though and he's very handsome! tee hee! Good luck to you.

Hi LilMissDiva, I'm not a sleever or plicationer yet (I'm still a bandster) but I love this topic!! With the band, the lowest I weighed was 170 and I was a size 10/12/14 depending on the brand. I agree that fitting into a single digit size would be amazing but my husband likes me with some curves and bumps so I think I'm gonna shoot for a size 9/10. The smallest I was as an adult was in college and I think I weighed closer to 160 and I was a size 10 but that was like 15 years ago so who knows what size I'd be now at that weight! I'm shooting for a normal BMI - about 159-162ish for my 5' 7.5" frame. genepha approved by insurance TODAY to have my band removed :cheer2: self-pay plication

Hi Vickie, You might want to post this question on the plication board so people who've had the procedure will see this question.

Hi Khay, I think there are a couple of doctors in Dallas doing plication. I found this one: http://bscdallas.com/ I don't know anything about him though. You are close enough to Mexico that that might be an option. Dr. Jose Rodriguez is in Juarez and has a good reputation. You can search for him on YouTube as well. I think he charges around 7K. Dr. Corvala is in Tijuana and has IMO the most experience doing plication. I haven't had the plication done yet as I'm waiting for insurance approval for my band removal. I think healing time is relatively quick as it's a laparoscopic procedure. good luck to you! genepha

Sarah, Sorry to hear about your situation. Can you give me some idea about where you are hearing or reading information from people who are not satisfied? I am deciding between the sleeve and the plication so this information is particularly helpful to me now. Thanks and I hope you find a surgery that works for you. genepha

Hi and welcome! You might want to read over some of the other posts as people who've had GPS sometimes put their stats in their signatures. You can also search for Cknorte's posts as she has a blog and posts her info as well on her signature. I believe she's lost about 60 lbs since July. I haven't had plication yet but I do have a lapband and am also considering the sleeve but feel more comfortable with the plication. I've had lots and lots of vomiting and sliming with the band but haven't heard too much of this with the sleeve or plication. Where r u thinking of having surgery? Good luck to you! genepha

Anna, Congratulations!! I'm also considering Dr Rod. so I'm anxious to hear how your experience. Good luck!!

AnnaT That is great to know as Dr. Rod is my #1 choice if I'm going to have surgery in Mexico. Thanks for the info!

Hi, I completely understand where you are coming from. It's a hard decision...and we all know change is difficult. I read on someone's signature something like, "you have to want to become a butterfly so badly that you have to be willing to give up being a caterpillar". It's hard to leave our old selves behind and with WLS of any kind we need to be mentally prepared. I had the Lapband and was fairly successful for a long time. However, I have completely given up on my band and consequently, myself. I've regained almost all of my weight back and am now looking into plication or sleeve gastrectomy. I'd prefer plication but can't afford it so I'm hoping to have insurance pay for my band removal and self-pay for the plication. I have been going to a local support group and I think that is heping. I am planning on seeing a therpaist as well starting in January to mentally prepare myself for another surgery and weight loss. As far as your doctor - I think Wasabubblebutt has some good info on how to research Mexican doctors on her blog: http://wasabubblebutt.blogspot.com/ There are a few patients of Dr. Abrils that have their emails available on this site also: http://www.mexicolapbandcenter.com/sucess-stories.html perhaps you can email them and get an actual account of their surgery. It seems that Dr. Abril has worked with Dr. Corvala so you may want to call his office and ask, although they may not be unbiased since they probably want you to have surgery with them! I was considering using Dr. Jose Rodriguez, he is a bit cheaper than Dr. Corvala and Dr. Ortiz but I luckily found a dr. here in California that has started doing plication! Good luck to you! genepha

Sorry! That has to be very frustrating. When I lost w the lapband my weight loss was very slow. I did eventually end up losing 110 pounds but it took me over 3 years. I think with the sleeve and plication the body thinks it's starving and tries to retain everything, fluid and food. You've gotten good advice. Even though you might be losing slower - you are losing. 2 pounds per week! Just think in less than a year you will have lost 100 pounds! Take care, genepha

You look great! Congrats on your success.

When I was banded I took off 6 weeks but I have a very active, on-my-feet-all-day career. I am planning on taking 3-4 weeks off when I have the plication if I don't have to have a hernia repair. If I do have a hernia I expect to take 6 weeks off.

Anna, Congrats on your decision! Dr. Rod was my first choice as well, until my insurance company decided to pay for my band removal/replacement. I haven't had the plication yet but since I've had the band, the most important appliance for me was the blender, although this was before the magic bullet came out. I used my blender daily to make Protein shakes and then I used it for Soups and to blend thicker things like chili (in the beginning). I take 2 children's Vitamins daily and 2 Iron pills because of anemia. I also recommend taking chapstick to the hospital with you, your own robe and slippers. You may want to take your own pillow to help with tummy pains if you have to fly or drive a long way home. Good luck to you! genepha banded Dec, 2001 Awaiting insurance approval for band removal/replacement with self-pay plication

Great topic! For 2011 first I'd like to have my band fixed or removed and plication done! Then I'd like to make exercise a priority again. I'd like to take a bath and not feel squished in the tub. Crossing my legs with ease and bending down to be on the floor with my 2 little ones are also on the top of my list. I'd like to get back into my size 14s then 12s then 10s that are sitting in boxes. I'd like to feel comfortable in my own body again.

Does Dr Aceves perform the plication? I thought he did the sleeve gastrectomy but not plication. If he does perform it that's good to know because he is very experienced, especially with revisions.

Hi Steph, I've had my band for 9 years. I was very successful and liked it for about 7 years. I lost about 110 lbs. After I was put on bed rest when I was pregnant with my last child, I had to have a complete unfill for about 8 months. After our daughter was born, I could never quite get back to the "sweet" spot. I also started having severe reflux. About 6 months ago, I had a hernia repair and my port replaced. When I went for my first fill, I had so much swelling in my pouch that I couldn't get any fill and my esophagus was dilated. While I have had some success with the band (I regained about 80 lbs. from bed rest and suffering an injury) the fills/unfills are brutal (at least for me). I've had probably 20 fills/unfills in the past 2 years. For me getting a fill done is not an easy process as it requires me to take the whole day off of work, travel to Los Angeles, and be poked about 5-8 times with a very long needle. With all that being said, I am most likely going to have my band replaced and remain empty along with a plication procedure. Dr. Watkins has performed this procedure a few times I believe, although he is not my dr. so I won't be the first one to have it done. The one thing that I think is amusing is that people say the thing that bugs them about the band is having a foreign object in their body. Everyone who has weight loss surgery has some kind of foreign object in their body whether they have staples, suturing, or silastic (the lapband). Silastic is used in lots of medical devices including pacemakers and shunts so I didn't have a problem with that aspect of it. However, I am excited about the newer procedures that are emerging in weight loss surgery and I think plication is the right choice for me. If plication wasn't available then I would seriously consider the sleeve. Good luck to you in your journey. genepha banded Dec, 2001 Awaiting insurance approval for band removal/replacement with self-pay plication

It seems that there are a few questions about pricing. Now you have to take everything with a grain of salt as I'm a lapband removal/replacement in addition to a plication procedure so my procedure would most likely cost more than just a plication. Dr. Lopez-Corvala is 10K with band removal and plication I think he's closer to 8K with just plication. (The most experienced plication dr. in Mexico IMO) Dr. Jose Rodriguez -Tijuana or Juarez, Mexico is about 7K (Very experienced as well) Dr. Watkins is about 10K for just plication. (One of the most experienced doctors in the US) Dr. Ariel Ortiz is about 10K for just plication. I think Dr. Cottam (in Salt Lake City) is about 8-9K Prices change and these prices may not be accurate as of today but it does give you an idea. Hope this helps! genepha

Starr, I haven't had my plication yet but when I spoke with my dr. he did mention that this can be a side effect, at least in the beginning. I had severe reflux with my band when I had any fill so I'm really hoping I don't have to deal with reflux again. I'm guessing a PPI will be given during the first few weeks. Hopefully someone who has actually had the procedure done will respond so we can both know more! genepha banded Dec, 2001 Awaiting insurance approval for band removal/replacement with self-pay plication

Hope you feel better soon! Take it easy. genepha