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@@PinkGirl I had a band put in 2002 it eroded in 2004. They took the fluid out hoping it would pull away from my stomach and my stomach heal on its own. Unfortunately that did not happen. I finally had surgery to remove the band in 2008. When they went in to operate the band had completely eroded and was not visible. They removed the band and repaired the damage. Two days later they did the leak test and my stomach would not open to release anything. That night I went in for surgery #2 which was a complete open surgery. I came out with a feeding tube and three drains. I was in the hospital for 14 days. I was off work for an additional 8 weeks. I wouldn't suggest a lap band to my worst enemy. I feel the Dr who did my fills is the one who missed mine up. I think he over filled me each time. I lost 110 lbs with the band. I have gained 50 lbs back since I had it removed in 2008. I see failed lap bands almost on a daily basis where I work. I work at a Endoscopy Center where we do EGD's on patients. It really sad to see all the people that have gone through the lap band procedures only to have it fail. I chose the lap band bc they said it was reversible. But after a 14 day stay in the hospital, 2 surgeries and $300,000 Later it was removed.

@@parisshel yes that's true and it has a much smaller stomach to produce the hormone, so it doesn't make as much. I am only giving advice because, I work where everyone comes that is having a problem so we see it all. We do Endoscopy's.

@phatfagirl, @@gebbiabn look up peptide hormone ghrelin. It will explain it in detail. When the sleeve is done it removes the stomach so that hormone is not produced.

@@gebbiabn when they do the sleeve they remove 85% of your stomach. They take it out. Your stomach produces a hormone that tells you brain it's hungry. Some people produce to much of the hormone hence that's why they eat to much. With bypass the stomach is not taken out. It remains in your body. Just trying to give info since we see it on a daily basis and see the failure rate and the problems associated with it.

@@Pinkgirl1234 we do probably 20-30 EGD's a week on bariatric patients. And I can tell you patients that have had the bypass 5 or more yrs ago are as obese as the were before or bigger. I almost died from a lap band erosion and ended up having two major surgeries and a 16 day stay in the hospital. I am thinking about the sleeve only bc I have seen the best results with less problems with the sleeve. The GI Dr's I work with will tell you the same thing. We have seen some bad stuff from bariatric surgeries. A sleeve is the only thing I myself would ever do to my body again. I know a family of 5 that 2 of the women had the by pass and 3 of the others sleeves. The two with bypass have gained their weight back. They have acute gastritis, hair loss and are deficient in so many vitamins. The sleeve has the least complications of any of the bariatric procedures.

This is so not true. Please consider a sleeve over a bypass. I am a lap band eroded survivor and would never recommend a band to anyone. I work for a Endoscopy Center so I have seen it all. I have seen people die from results from the bypass. You have no stomach so you have no way to absorb nutrients. The sleeve leaves a banana of the stomach and nothing is rerouted. With the sleeve you can still absorb nutrients. The only successful long term weight loss we have seen and with little to no complication is with the sleeve. Most people with the by pass usually gain there weight back after about 7-10 yrs.

Please consider the sleeve over the bypass