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Overall, I think most studies show there's a 5-15% re-surgical rate with the band. That includes port revisions, leaky tubes, erosions, dilations etc. It is a little higher than the other three WLS techniques. Here's a video that makes a lot of sense by a well known bariatrics surgeon. How he helps his patients decide. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VmvWFu79Ik#t=99

I also had horrible scarring and adhesions. My surgeon was going to do a revision but once he got in there he felt it would be better to let my stomach heal and return to a semi-normal shape. I had to weight four months for the Sleeve surgery. I had the band for 9 years though, and apparently the damage was extensive. I am also surprised they still do the Lap-Bands, and surprised anyone would want it.

I've had my band for 13 years. Yes, I "throw up" almost regularly. Can't eat bread hardly, fruits, french fries, etc. I lost 50 pounds and 18 months ago had a tummy tuck. The placement of the port has cause me ALOT of pain the last 9 months! It is now trying to poke through. A stitch has come through and I've also lost another 25 pounds. I'm so happy where I am weight wise and only have 15 pounds to go! Now I'm talking with a surgeon about removal. I'M SCARED TO DEATH! I DON'T EVER WANT TO BACK TO BEING OBESE EVER AGAIN!!!! Not even overweight! I've only read posts of other people removing the devices and gaining a BUNCH of weight!!! I'm thinking of revising, but 13 years is a long time to have something foreign in your body! I'm thinking of just asking him to move the port... Thoughts?

I was approved for band removal, denied the revision due to BMI not being high enough. Trying to figure out how to appeal it. Not sure where to start but I can't believe that's the answer.

Let me share my story. In December 2009, I had the lap-band, which worked great until I had to have an emergency removal in January 2013. The baNd had major slippage and needed to come out. I was supposed to have revision to bypass right then and there but my doctor did not feel it was safe because my stomach was so "angry." With the lap-band I went from 227 to about 145. I was at a size 4 and feeling great. So fast forward to May 2014, I was back at 209 and feeling horrible. I was finally approved to have the sleeve, which was done on May 13, 2014. The 2 weeks prior for the pre-op diet is went down to 200 on the day of surgery. I had the surgery and when I was released from the hospital I weighed 207, I guess cause all of the fluids. Yesterday was my 6 weeks post op and I am only at 185, Is this normal. I dont know what exactly I am supposed to expect. I was able to start walking/running at about 4 weeks and I started back at cross fit this week. Any help would be great. Since I was not able to keep the weight off after the lap-band removal I am really discouraged and feeling like this will not work. Has anyone had this happen.

To the OP: PLEASE post this in the Mexico forum, they need to know! I find the statement about US doctors being a safer or more advanced option to be arrogant, and honestly misinformed. I am a surgical technician in the USA, and I have to respond to this. Mexico is not a bad place to live for everyone who lives there, and upon investigating their laws and medical practices and training for the past 2 years- it actually rivals the USA. I can seen where a Mexican MD would prefer to raise a family in Mexico, and be around their family. My Dr. (Dr. Kelly) is also a US medical doctor, and visits here frequently to actually train US surgeons- he prefers to be in Mexico, where he was born and his family is. Property is much cheaper there, and the education system is actually much better than our public school system, and cheaper for private school. There are people who choose to live in Mexico, not because the USA isn't an option, but because they genuinely are happy there. I met a nice couple from Canada who has VSG in Mexico, when I mentioned the USA they gasped and said "I would never let an American doctor perform this surgery!"- also a prejudgement based on bias, but it goes both ways. It stands to reason that a surgeon who performs 5 sleeves a day for many years is going to naturally be more skilled than a doctor who performs 2 a week- it does not matter what country you are in. There are amazing doctors in the USA and Mexico, and there are shady doctors in the USA and Mexico. Though we would like to believe that if a US surgeon left us badly injured there would be justice or a revision surgery to correct it, the reality is they are set up for malpractice law suits- those forms you sign aren't just for fun. Though I think most surgeons would jump to correcting a complication here, there is no guarantee you are "safe" in the event of a complication. That said, it's obviously much harder to pursue a doctor whose surgery resulted in a complication if they are in Mexico and you are in the USA. There is little to no justice you can get, other than alerting other patients. I will say, when ever I've called or e-mailed Dr. Kelly, I've had a detailed response in 30 minutes or less to my concerns. When I've had concerns that would require a visit, he referred me to an independent bariatric surgery practice in my area (Los Angeles) that is very reasonably priced for visits, and performs VSG. I've felt very, very, very cared for through this process. The only surgeons in the USA I have real cell phone numbers for are friends of mine- a treating doctor rarely gives out that kind of information here. The OP also did not has VSG, she/he had plication, which is a different procedure altogether. It would be good to alert them on Sleeveplicationtalk.com instead of here. I chose VSG after my research because I didn't trust the results of plication. nor having a pprtion of my stomach "tied up" in a sense.

Thank you for sharing your story. I am not sure that the plication is showing very good results so far overall, no matter who does it or what country. You know this, but I am saying this for any newbies that may be reading this - the plication is a totally unrelated and different surgery then the gastric sleeve. I hope your revision goes very well. I am a band to sleeve revision patient... it is disappointing when your first surgery doesn't work as advertised.

I did *lots* of research for my revision and all led me to Dr. Aceves. I think I'm making a great choice as well as I've heard and read nothing but good things about him and the hospital. I'm just worried that I'll fail the sleeve like I failed the band. Fingers are crossed and I have a goal that I WILL get to! I haven't been to Mexico since I was banded so I'm itching to go back ..... we used to go every year while growing up and I so miss it! Pretty sad I have to schedule a surgery to go! Hahahaa

I get it. Went for band revision on 10/21/19 to do the sleeve. So until 11/30/20. I still found rare occasions for food sticking. Sleeve wasn't done last year due to scar tissue so that is why I had issues. Sent from my SM-J337V using BariatricPal mobile app

I felt that during certain periods early on that my body was not sending the "full message" early enough. I suspect it was lapband caused espophagus dialation. Like you have similiar capacity to other sleevers, but your body doesn't send the "enough" signal as early. According to my NUT, this is the reason they theorize that some revision patients don't lose as well as "virgin sleevers". My solution was to use the itty bitty dishes and silverware. Focus on eating slow. When I would eat my 2-3 oz portion, but didn't feel satiated, I would wait at least 15-20 minutes before deciding I needed more food. Pretty much always, I was actually satiated, it just took time for the brain to catch up. Then, I went through several months of just having very little interest in food - the forgetting to eat type thing. Now, I am having more hunger and just wanting to eat more. I think this is a fairly typical pattern. I stil use a little 4oz dessert dish as my bowl, and a tiny salad plate as my "plate" and even though I am hungrier/wanting more now, it is still pretty small portions!

You're welcome! I hope you are able to revise to a sleeve soon because I really don't think anyone should have to live with a band.

Hi Mindy.....would you please share the info on the insurance you purchased that covers revision?

Sounds like you are kind of doing the appeal battle that a lot of us have to do....basically the same thing...feeling run around...no hurry, etc. I sure hope you are ok. The big reason I did not want the lapband was because of what's happened to you...that and I didn't want a foreign object in me, or to have to have needles to get fills....not for me. I can't believe you'll gain the weight back. I think you should hunker cown and get your food logs going and restrict yourself to Protein shakes and 1500 calories...I highly doubt you'll gain all that weight if you try and fight it...at least until you get your revision. I dont have PCOS...but who knows...isn't there a way we all can battle the buldge?

I am 16 years out, had a revision that didn’t work. I went through all the motions as those whose surgeries were successful. Mine wasn’t. A dr there told me that I would only lose 40 lbs. He had no idea of the sacrifices I made. Instead of a revision, which took a waiting period of 14 months, I did not get it done. I regained weight after complications of another surgery. We regain weight for many reasons. So, I felt like the only one who left the hospital empty handed and sad. No one is stupid for trying to be healthier. I was so upset at this “another failure” that I decided to “reset” my mind instead of thinking about the stress of regain and revision. My driving force is what motivated me. These textbook doctors and nutritionists don’t know what’s in our head. They see you for 5 minutes, get their $300-$400, and I’m left to deal with this myself. Even my family doesn’t help very well. I decided that since the drs can’t help me, I’ll be damned if I’m going to fail myself. I’m going through the motions as if I’m a brand new patient, regardless of my hunger or very painful legs. I’m going to prove that jerk dr who told me that I would only lose 40 pounds. What an idiot. I lost weight before, regained and they can’t fix it. Well, I’ll start all over, no matter what it takes. If I binge on diet chewing gum to get through the food urge, fine. It is what it is. I know what I could have done better the first time around. We have another chance because I do not believe in failure, no matter what the circumstances are. Plus, I’m probably older than you, so now I’m told more bs about age. I’m going to prove them wrong, and I’ve already done searches like MyFitnessPal.com. We can’t do anything about the past, but we can control our future. I hope this helps you in some way. - Pam

Thanks so much for sharing your experience!!! It is wonderful to hear that the sleeve is working so well for you!!! One if my fears is developing bad reflux. Due to my weight, I would not be a candidate for revision to RnY so that scares me. I would hate to have to suffer for the rest of my life. My father suffers from Barrett's (sp?) syndrome and I see what he goes through despite treatment, and I don't think I could live like that

I'm in the same boat but I haven't lost a single pound. The doctor can't figure out the problem as my band looks great... only that I can't eat most of the day and on the rare occasion I can eat, I can eat the house. I'm getting my band out. In preparation for the new surgery I had to get my band completely unfilled so that I can try to get myself on proper foods for a while due to (ironically) malnourishment. Only after I got my band unfilled did I realise how miserable I've been. I'm lucky that the government will pick up the cost of my revision, but I'm still $18K in the hole for the band surgery. My new doctor says that originally he was all gung-ho for bands as the new technology, but he's changed his mind now that he's had to remove so many of them. Some were due to erosion, some infection, and a good number due to problems with no clear cause. I fall in that last group. Obviously I wanted my band to work but every time I get even remotely close to restriction, I just start epically throwing up. No sweet spot for me.

I do hope you can get the revision done soon, I do know what it feels like to really work hard at losing it only to regain it so rapidly because of the PCOS. It's so frustrating, that is where I am at now! I can look at someone else eat something and gain 10 lbs just from smelling it! Thats how bad it is for me. Then I just give up and though I'm not a horrible eater, I'm not the best either. So frustrating! Hang in there! Ping me anytime you want to vent, I do understand the PCOS hell!

As I retired nurse I have heard a lot about duodenal switch being done in European countries for years before it was done here. It is much, much safer as it doesn't mess with the intestinies, but still is major surgery. Sue, if you had the choice at the beginning would you have chose DS over the band. I can see that the DS revision is not going to require the constant and unending fills and work that the band does, so in your honest opinion what would you have chosen, and did your esophageal problems exsist before banding or did it come along with the banding and continue to get worse. I've heart this to be true with lots of people. They never had esophageal problems before. I'm so glad you switched over and are doing well. I think Gastric Bypass will become a thing of the past with DS on the horizon. Best of everything to you. Sounds like you have been through a lot. Hugs Dody

I could write a book about how to succeed with the band, including what and how to eat. As a matter of fact, I DID write a book about that, and I'd be happy to tell you more about it, but right now I want to say that there is no single way to succeed at weight loss with the band. No single food plan, no single exercise plan...because we're all unique individuals who have to figure out what works best for each of us...and that may change as we advance towards our weight goal. If you're a post-op and your surgeon or dietitian didn't give you a food/snack plan to follow, ask for it. If you're a pre-op wondering what a bandster eats, you'll find the answers extremely varied. One of the ways you can get ideas of what other people are eating each day is to post a daily "What are you eating today?" thread. If you had done that today, my answer would have been as follows: B: Protein latte S: egg beaters scrambled with chopped scallion, sugar snap peas, and cheese S: cinnamon-oat Breakfast cookie L: eggplant & tomato salad w/ Havarti cheese S: popcorn S: raw sugar snap peas D: sesame-orange shrimp, braised cabbage S: to be determined I should add that I have to eat 8+ times a day in order to manage some unwanted consequences of my 2012 revision from the band to the sleeve. It may look like I eat an awful lot, but each meal or snack is very, very small - maybe 3-4 bites each. Jean

Hello, everyone. My name is Nicole and I just found this forum website from a Google search. This is my first post, my introduction. I am 32 years old, I am a mom of three (12, 9, 7) and I am engaged to an amazing man. We live in Greensboro, NC. I had my RNY on July 30, 2007 and just this past week was the first I'd experienced any type of problems. I will get into that more here in a little bit. I had my RNY, as I stated above, in 2007, and I went into the surgery room weighing 257 lbs. My highest recorded weight was 315 lbs, and my lowest was 128 lbs. Right now I am hovering around 160 lbs. Since my RNY I have gone through a 12 year relationship/10 year marriage that was rather abusive, as well as a separation from that marriage, a new (and amazing) relationship, two moves (from PA to VA and then VA to NC), three knee surgeries, an emergency gall bladder removal surgery and just this past week an emergency perforated stomach ulcer surgery. Like I said above, this last week's incident was the first problem since having my surgery (aside from the occasional "dumping", vomiting, dehydration, etc.) and it was VERY scary. I was admitted to the local hospital, with what I thought was a heart attack because of the symptoms I was displaying, only to find that a ruptured ulcer produced a perforated stomach. I spent 7 days in the hospital, having gotten out just yesterday. My "pouch" was repaired, however I am back on the DYS 1 diet of pureed and soft foods, and I am being set up with a bariatric surgeon and his team (one that works with the surgeons who worked on my stomach last week) in the next 2 weeks because there is a good chance that I will have to have a revision done. I am on some medications right now, to continue the healing process, but the surgeons think that there is going to be no option other than the revision. Um, let's see ..... I truly have strayed from the "RNY way of life" with all of the craziness and stress that has gone on in my life, but after this past week I know that I have to get back in line. As I said above, in 2010 I had gotten down to 128 lbs (around a size 4) and while I really enjoyed it I just crept back up after the first knee surgery. It's going to be a while before I can get back into the gym, but that's my last worry right now. I just want to get better. I hope to meet a lot of nice people here, to offer advice and to get advice. Just because I'm 5 years post-op it doesn't mean I know it all, and I never claim to. I am posting two pictures along with this post - the first is my highest and lowest weights (2006 and then 2010) and then myself and my children, back in August, at my current size. I hope that everyone has a blessed Thanksgiving week and weekend. Nicole

Im going in for my revision next month for these exact reasons !!!! Im glad you are ok now. Still praying for our OP Sent from my Z981 using the BariatricPal App

I am still here. I went home for 2 days but am back today they were prepared to do a revision tomorrow but we have decided to do a few more tests.The doctors are dumb founded at my condition and have never seen this happen before and my doctor has been in Bariatrics for years..,

With revision, at least in my case, it would meaning giving me a new pouch, from my old stomach. I have heard of people having this done before, but I never really read up on it, because I guess I never thought it could happen to me.

Okay, I'm in for this challenge. Sadly, I had to go revise my ticker UP since the end of the Fall challenge. I've put off doing this as it SOOOO discourages me, but time to get clean and BACK to work... or working out as it were. My exercise was minimal over the holidays and omigosh WHAT a difference it makes. It's not like I don't already KNOW that. Since I always feel so much better when I'm working out regularly why the heck to I take breaks from it? Oh well, I'll try to stop beating myself up now. If I can go a week without feeling dissapointed in myself it would be a BIG NSV. An even 180 to start. By the end of this challend I want to in the 160's.

I have had my lapband since 2005. My starting weight was 230, my lowest weight was 174 (lasted about a month) and now I am at 265! My band is unfilled because I never felt full. I just felt pain when I ate (unless it was soft foods or liquids)...this was no way to live. I had a unfill and found out my port is tilted (most painful adjustment ever!!). I really want to lose weight and live a fuller life! I have been researching the sleeve and am hoping it will work for me! Any help with these questions is MUCH appreciated! -I read a lot of people saying sleeve doesnt work after having a lapband :/ is this true? I am SO scared of making a wrong choice -Is it possible to have a band and sleeve? -Why do more surgeons not offer the "net" around the stomach to help prevent stretching? -Weight loss aside; are you able to drink a small amount of alcohol (like a glass or two of wine)? -Do you feel like you get enough energy from what you eat? -Do you find yourself craving carbs or did the sleeve help kill that “I gotta have some bread and butter!!!”. Because even when I stuff myself with other foods, I still have that mental “but you didn’t have what you really wanted” feeling. -Since this is removing some of the stomach, do you feel like some surgeons are better than others? Like it’s an art? I am curious why some people fail and some succeed. Could it be the surgeons don’t remove enough stomach or do it wrong? I also ask this because I would consider going out of state (not out of country for a surgeon more experienced with lapband to sleeve. -Do you believe WLS is like breast implants, where you should prepare yourself that you may need to have “maintenance” done on it? Whether that be revision or additional surgery to correct complications? I explained to my boyfriend I always knew it was a possibility that I may need my band fixed or removed because I saw many patients with slips and port issues. -Can someone have the sleeve done 2x if they gain weight back? -My lapband surgeon is charging 22k for band removal to sleeve. Expensive! I already paid 19k out of pocket for my lapband, and it didn't work out. And I REALLY did try. This would be a 41k investment-- sigh. Many of my question stem from my fail with my lapband. Thank you for everyones replies... I have read this site over for days and finally wanted to post!