I was banded in 2009, lost 90 lbs and all was good for a year and a half. Then I had multiple slips, the last being too serious to fix. I had my band out in July, by January I had gained all but 15 lbs back and was sleeved last Wednesday. I find my story to be pretty typical. Of roughly 25 blogs I follow of folks who were banded around the same time as me....half have converted or had removal about 5 have made it to goal and love their bands.