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Well, not sure what to tell ya, but here goes. I would say be committed to the post op plan. If you do this, you'll probably be successful. I've had a very easy time with the revision...but not everyone does. I have found the "full" feeling is different than with the band. That was surprising. I guess I would say just follow the dietary & exercise guidelines. I feel like I've been successful. I'm down 60lbs since revision surgery and down 90lbs since my highest before the band. I'm in a size I've never seen and a weight I saw 30+ yrs. ago. Feel free to ask any questions...good luck.

I was a little gun shy of another WLS as well. I revised to a sleeve. But... Maybe restriction alone isn't your thing? If you lost 40# in under two years with a band maybe a malabsorptive procedure is a better bet for you? We really do not do well losing/maintaining without a tool. Stats show about 3-5% of obese people can lose weight on their own or maintain after losing their WLS tool. You can try to maintain or even lose but don't be too hard on yourself if you can't do it. You might want to start researching other options? You don't have to do any of them but use this time to consider what else is out there.

Hey there. I'm a kaiser gal that had surgery in May. My understanding is once you qualify, your in, no matter what your weightloss prior to the surgery. I was a revision patient and didn't lose a whole bunch pre surgery. However, the pre surgery diet is really about preparing you in a couple of ways. 1) are you committed to the change in lifestyle? Losing weight prior to surgery begins you on a path for continued success. 2) prepping the body for surgery. To complete the surgery your liver needs to downsize and losing weight prior to surgery will do this. It's like a win-win! I would think if you still desire the surgery, then it will still be a go. Just my 2 cents. :-)

Hi there, I am new to this forum, and I am considering revision band to sleeve surgery. I've watched multiple youtube videos, some good and some horrible; therefore, I am very nervous to meet with the new surgeon tomorrow. I like this forum and it is very helpful. Because the band did not work out as well as I thought it would, my biggest fear with the revision is failing. I appreciate how you all give your feed back and encouragement. so so nervous!!

I'm in the Seattle area too! I go to Northwest Weight Loss Surgery in Everett, Wa! They are absolutely amazing! I had the band about 3 years ago and not to much success, however I went in on Thursday and will be getting revision to sleeve with the same doctor! They have support groups that are amazing and fun! All the patients and staff are very supportive and understanding, my favorite is almost every person that works for them has personally had WLS! So they can relate and it's real. I am very nervous about the revision. I do have to wait 3 months as my insurance has requirements, and one of them is meeting with a nutritionist 4 times in 90 days, and then request approval for the surgery. I am hoping I will be getting the surgery in February!

I'm a basket of anxiety on any given day, but I had band removal and revision to gastric sleeve this past Thursday and I am doing awesome. You just have to put your fears aside and give it to God. I finally decided that I couldn't go on living overweight and miserable with a messed up lapband, so basically either way, having procedure & passing or living miserably with the band/extra weight, was a risk with death as consequence each day. You have a reason to be a little scared - it's a serious surgery- but as long as you've researched and found a good surgical group with whom you feel comfortable, you will be fine. I'm in my early 30's too and can relate to some of what you have mentioned. Don't stop now. You will have a forum of supporters, along with all those family members and friends you wrote letters to, AND your physician group. Go get 'em Jacob. You've got this!!

I just revised from sleeve to bypass 8 weeks ago. Like you I was afraid if the. Bypass. I got the sleeve early 2018 ended up with large hernia and gerd. now that I have the bypass, I am very happy with it. As long as you keep up with having bloodwork checked, take your vitamins and eat healthy, there is nothing to fear from the bypass. you have to do this or deal with cancer. There is no other option. Please make peace with it so that you can get healthy. You will be glad that you did it I once it is behind you. My only regret is that I did not start out with bypass and avoid having surgery twice. hang in there and come here for support. Please keep us updated as well. You got this.

Hello wright616, My band to sleeve revision was last July 28. My band and my sleeve were performed by the same surgeon and he put in the band for "eternity." Unfortunately, that worked against me when it had to come out 6 years later. The band did not slip but I couldn't keep down anything by the end and the vomiting caused serious problems with my esophogus. I had a significant amount of scar tissue around the port and my surgery took 3 hours (about 1.5 hours longer than anticipated). In spite of the more extensive surgery, my hospital stay was the standard 36-hours. I can tell you that I felt very little "general" pain. Actually, the whole experience would have been very easy on me with one exception: there was a lot -- A LOT -- of discomfort where the port was removed. It was about the size of a grapefruit. I made the pain worse because I pulled the area once trying to get off the hospital bed to go to the bathroom on the first night. I pulled it again, badly, when I tried to get off the couch on the second day I was home. After that, the area hurt for about 2 solid weeks and then was just sore for another week after that. Walking helped for all the reasons that you've probably heard: pain management, accelerating the anethesia out of the body, weight loss, etc. I had absolutely no trouble walking from the first time that the nurse got me out of bed. That localized area burned while I walked but it wasn't unbearable, just persistent. Honestly, I'd do it again in a heartbeat. No hesitation. No regrets. I wish you all the best with your surgery. Good luck! Embrace

Got the answer today from my insurance company. If there are complications with my band that deem my revision surgically or medically necessary, there will be no waiting period. Otherwise, 6 months Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using the BariatricPal App

Hello all. I'm about a year and a half out from my lap band to gastric bypass revision and I'm just not losing weight anymore. I've never made goal and I accept my part in that. This last month I've really gotten back on track and begun to focus on doing things right. Just wondering if anyone out there is using a Fitbit and if you find it helpful. Any tips or tricks??

Hello All, I am a second time poster on this board. The first time being 3.5 years ago. I guess one stays away as long as things are going well. 40 years old male. I had the lap band surgery almost 9 years ago now. I am posting now because I am wondering whether I should have my lap band removed and if so, how to go about it. Weight loss wise, the band has not failed me. I have lost about 90 pounds with it and have maintained that (despite some yo-yoing in the middle). In fact I am now at my lowest weight ever now because of having to adjust my eating (see point #1). But I am considering removing the band for a number of reasons. 1) Acid reflux. Had it bad for a couple of years (and gained weight on those years) until I changed my eating habits (lower volume, not eating close to bedtime) about a year ago and the problem is now gone (and gone with them the extra pounds). 2) Gas/ bloating/ indigestion. Gas has been a problem from day 1. When everyone usually complained about trapped gas for a few days or a week or two at most after surgery, I remember having trapped gas for a month and half after surgery! And since my surgery, most gas has tended to come up (through my mouth). But I have noticed recently that gas (which I assume comes from indigestion) is becoming a real problem and that I have been spending sometimes hours after a meal suffering from excruciating abdominal pain because of trapped gas that needs to be released. 3) lack of follow-up support/ care. I live in Canada and because I was considered a low-BMI at the time, I had to go the private route for it. A year following surgery, I moved provinces and was thus thousands of kms away from the clinic where I had my surgery. 5 years later, and my surgeon no longer practiced at that private clinic and only now works in the public system exclusively. There are no private bariatric surgeons in the province I live in, and all attempts to follow-up wit a local surgeon through the public system have failed miserably. For fills, I used to either go to my original surgeon or to a fill doctor I know (flying thousands of kms away for both). In the 9 years, I remember I had my band checked once with my original surgeon about 5 years ago, and once at my local hospital here (where they do the public weight loss surgeries) only through x-ray when I thought something was wrong with the band. 4) the increasing stories on the forum and elsewhere about people opting to remove their bands. Very sad and depressing but understandable. I feel I am living with a ticking time bomb that will go off at some point in time (and maybe it already has and I don't know!). So it's a question of when rather than if. I am still debating when and how to go about this. Do I do it ASAP or do I wait a bit more until things are worse? Do I pay for it privately and fly again thousands of kms away to have it removed? or do I try to remove it locally? Is it even possible to do it locally without having to wait until I am dying for the public hospital here to remove it for me? I should mention that my family doctor retired a year ago and so I am now with a new doctor who I haven't had a chance to discuss all of this with at length yet. One thing I know for sure is that I am not revising to any other weight loss surgery privately because I will not repeat not having proper follow-up care locally like I did with the lap-band. This is very hard to live with and I guess I am now more risk averse now that I am older (and hopefully wiser with that lap band experience). Many thanks, Seldom

I had a band for 7 and a half years... started having a lot of trouble with reflux and vomiting at about year 4 but put up with it because i was scared to have it taken out (i had lost nearly 40 kilos).... but then i started gaining weight anyway because it always had to be unfilled to try and settle the reflux. So last year i decided to revise to a sleeve. I had the band removed in November - lucky i did too because it had slipped and 'was a mess' (the words of my surgeon that removed it). Ive been waiting since then for my stomach to heal and will be sleeved in just over 2 weeks. Ive regained a lot of weight but let me tell you - having that band out was like a huge sigh of relief! My doc seems confident that the healing time will reduce the risks significantly, considering how mangled my stomach was, but maybe thats just his process - I see lots of people on here that do the revision in one step and have great recovery and results. Im scared still but excited at the same time. Best of luck

Has anyone had a VBG revision? Sent from my SM-G900P using the BariatricPal App

I believe there is an entire section devoted to revisions! I am getting sleeved 9/4, so I am no help (first WLS ever), but I have seen many going for revisions!

Update : Had surgery on 9/24/09 lost 25 lbs went for my first fill to find out port is tilted had a revision done on 1/14/10. On date of surgery was 230 lbs now weighing 222 lbs. Feeling ok but kind of scared again I do not want to go through another revision. Does anyone have any suggestions of light exercises that I can do or should I wait until after my visit on 1/22/10?

Hi All I am hardly a newbie to the lap band but have only had 2 fills in the entire time I have had it and both were within 3 months post op. I was banded in Jan 04 and have lost around 140 pounds but my weight has been pretty much the same for the last 18 months or so because I haven't been as committed as I should be eating the right foods and I get hungry quite often ......... so this brings me to my question. I get full on small amounts of food still so I don't think I have an issue with my pouch being stretched (which previously I have had) or with slippage. The problem is I am hungry again within an hour or two of eating so I am snacking all day because I am never satisfied for long. I eat small amounts each time but it's SEVERAL times during the day, not just 3 or 4 times. Do you think this is indicative of needing a fill? My band has been entirely empty for just over 18 months (No coincidence really is it that my weight loss came to a screaming halt around the same time??!!) so I probably could do with a fill. I had port revision surgery in Dec 06 and have not had a fill since then. I am scared it is something more serious even though I can only eat small amounts and have no pain or anything else unusual going on. I have an appt with my surgeon next week and they want to do a fluoroscopy first just to make sure everything is ok because it has been so long. I guess it is just a precaution to make sure its all ok before they fill me. I know you guys arent doctors but hearing your opinion would calm me down a little if you just think a fill is all that is needed. I'm a bit scared. :crying:

@@Kindle I'm getting ready for revision lap band to sleeve. (Complications with lap band) I know the games I can play in my head and I really appreciate your tough love. I needed to hear it.

Just got the call from Weight Loss Center. Insurance has approved my revision from band to RNY. Don't have a date yet. That call may come on Monday. But just knowing it is approved and it will happen is enough for today. I am feeling every emotion there is. Mostly good. I am ready for this. Thanks to all those who have been pulling for me. Your support is more than you will ever know. Hugs

It's a very tricky surgery, and only a good revision surgery should evaluate your sleeve and see if it's possible. It would be interesting to know what you can eat, and how much you can eat only because it's good for the research stats. Do you know what size bougie your surgeon used? Was he/she experienced? Those are some things that would need to be answered, and I wouldn't go back to the same surgeon if they didn't perform the surgery properly. Getting the sleeve smaller is very risky, and is not recommended. Typically, a revision to the full DS or RNY is a better option if a restrictive only procedure did not give you the results you were seeking.

I revised from RNY to SIPS. I had it done due to medical issues.

Hello all! I have had my lapband for 4.5 years. The usual story here. Had success, lost 70 lbs in the first year. Then the band just changed. To much restriction, couldn't eat chicken, steak or eggs. Started rely on slidder foods. Had all the fluid removed b/c i was tired of having food stuck l the time. Have slowly gained 40 lbs back over the last 2.5 years. Was considering the sleeve back August but decided to give me band one more try. Since i have already paid for it and did have success. Have had several fills since September but here I am with minimal fluid i think somewhere between 2 and 3 cc's and having to much restriction agian while losing no weight. I have actually gained 4 lbs. I am exhausted from dieting and working out. My joints are killing me from all this weight pouding it out in the gym. I just do not understand why my body refuses to drop any weight. I am seeing my laband doc this coming Wednesday to discuss a revision. I have emailed him and told him i wanted to talk about this so he is aware. He said that he usually does them in two surgeries, waiting 3 months in between. I am very nervous about such an invasive surgery which is why i didn't opt for gastric bypass years ago. But i just do know what else to do. I feel like i have two choices: be fat or have this surgery. My hubby is behind me, which i was a little surprised. he was not a fan of me having the lapband but has always been supportortive. He hates the labpand and said he can no longer watch me choke on my food. When i brought up the sleeve he said that he loved the way that i am but realizes that i am getting nowhere on my own. He said that he sees all the work that i put in and that he is sad that i have to rely on surgery. I guess this post was more of a vent/telling my story and hoping for any info and stories that anyone has. Love this forum and have learned a lot.

Well I did mine the other way around---had the hysterectomy then the band. Have you discussed the band with your gyno? That seems like the first step. Where abouts is your port? My port is fairly high, and my hysterectomy scar is low, across at the base of my belly, just above my pubic bone----nowhere near where the port/tubing/band would be affected. As for the tummy tuck during the hysterectomy, if he would do it, I would jump on it!!! If he doesn't do it, you will end up having it later. Which would be 2 surgeries, if it is still tight when you get to goal, then this way you saved yourself the 2nd surgery, if not, you can have it revised then, and you have lost nothing! I was still at my heaviest when I had my hysterectomy---I only wish I had done it to where I could have some of this belly removed!!! Sounds like it is time to talk to the Doc!!! I can o nly imagine how much easier it would be to heal without the weight of that on the incision....good luck to you. I love my band---and I love the hysterectomy just as much I think!!!! Kat

Me too Band07!!! I'm scheduled for 9/25 for band removal and revision to the sleeve. My surgeon removed all my saline on 8/12 and had me do an UGI to check out everything. According to my UGI results he said he didn't see a problem with doing the 2 surgeries at once, but it did depend on how much scar tissue is around my band and he can't tell that until he gets in there. Praying that I don't have a lot of scar tissue!!

Hey Beanie& Rosie's Mom. When I had the band, I couldnt eat salads, veggies, chicken or turkey & other foods except of course junk food. As many ppl who've had a revision say, the sleeve is everything the band was supposed to be. I never slime now. I've only vomited twice in over 3 mos. Both times I tried to eat re-heated meat and it was to dry. I know my sleeve cant tolerate it. So my fault. Lesson learned. I had a 36 bougie which I think it's slightly bigger than most but my doctor said its the size with least complications. I never had trouble drinking water or getting 4 oz of food in. I have no regrets. Ask me anything.

Does any band to sleeve revision feel they have lost weight differently than those only sleeved?