kalona

I've had the band for 4 years. During the first 2-1/2 years I only lost 20 pounds. I had 2 fills, up to 1.5 cc but have never felt any restriction. After reading all the stories about PBing and reflux I was really afraid to get restriction and never went back for another fill. Through willpower and following WW, I've managed to lose 50 pounds. Now I'm scheduled for a tummy tuck and am thinking about having it removed during that procedure. I went for an unfill last week and the doctor said the band was wide open and asked how had I taken off the weight. He wondered if I had gotten fills somewhere else. He also said the band was perfectly positioned, as if it had been put in yesterday. He removed 1.5 cc's so now it's completely empty. I've lost another 3 pounds since then because I want to lose as much as possible before my surgery. The band has never given me any trouble but I think that's because I haven't had many fills and have never had any restriction. If I'm not going to use it the way it's supposed to be used, then why have it? I guess I'd rather do it with willpower than deal with throwing up and having food get stuck. Also I worry that the jury is still out on the long-term risk for complications for bandsters, i.e. it's not "if" but "when" something will go wrong. Like a ticking time bomb. Has anybody else experienced this? Kalona

Thanks, I think so too. Will discuss it with my plastic surgeon next week and see what he says. K

Yes, I've thought about that but like I said, I'm afraid to use it. Even when I was 220 pounds I wouldn't have a fill, so it's not likely I'll do it now. But if I do and something does go wrong with the band, that would be another surgery, which is what I don't want. But since I'm having surgery anyway, that's why I'm thinking about having it removed now, rather than risk having to have it removed later. I honestly don't think the band was instrumental in my weight loss since I've never had restriction. I guess I don't like having a foreign object in my body and if it's not going to benefit me, why have it there? Thanks for your reply, I guess I'll have to think about this some more. I have a week to decide. K

Excellent idea, I will do just that -- thanks! K

Hi all, found this site today while researching lap band removal. I've had mine since April 2004 and have had almost no problems -- maybe twice something got stuck, the same thing both times, a piece of Weight Watchers candy, and I spent an uncomfortable few hours until it went down. Other than that, no medical issues in 4 years. Weight loss wise, I've lost about 70 pounds (started at 238, now 168) through a combination of diet and exercise. I've roughly followed the Weight Watcher plan, although I don't attend meetings and am doing it on my own. So why am I thinking about removing it? I'm uneasy having a foreign object in my body and am concerned that it's just a matter of time until something goes wrong. Also I'm not sure how much of my weight loss has been the band and how much was me. I've had 2 fills, the first one a few months after I got the band, and the last was 2-3 years ago. I've never felt like I had any restriction and basically had the band as "insurance" because I knew once I got to 190 pounds I wouldn't be eligible to get it anymore, and that's always where my weight loss would stall. I'm now at 168 pounds and am scheduled for a Lower Body Lift to get rid of all the excess skin around my stomach, hips, and thighs. During the LBL it would be very easy for the doctor to pull the band out, which is why I'm thinking about doing it now. Up until Oct 2006 I weighed 215 pounds and it was only when I started walking on the treadmill every day that I dropped the last 50 pounds. So I really don't think it's the band that did it, it was good old fashioned diet & exercise. Exercise is a daily part of my life now, I walk 5-6 miles per day, rain or shine, and I'm very happy with myself and committed to staying thin. I eat what I like, including pizza, just in moderation. Since this board is dedicated to lap band removal, I thought I would post here. I'm not even sure why I'm posting, maybe to have someone tell me I'm not crazy for wanting to remove it when it's caused me no trouble whatsoever, which apparently is not the case for a lot of people. I'm grateful that I haven't had any problems and at the same time, really do not like having that "ticking time bomb" feeling. And since I'm going to be on the operating table anyway, I can get it removed at no expense. And of course recovery time will already be factored into the tummy tuck/LBL. Thanks for any feedback or words of wisdom! K