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Depends on a couple of major things: 1. Your insurance company's policies. 2. Whether or not your doctor will do a revision all at once, or will require you to do it in two, separate surgeries. My insurance covered my band removal in March, and my doctor wanted me to wait 3 months before sleeving so that my stomach would heal - I had massive scarring and a heavily distorted stomach from living with a severe slip for 2+ years (long story as to why!). As soon as the band was removed, we began the process of getting insurance approval for the sleeve - at that point, I was considered a "new patient" in that I had to meet all of the WLS requirements as if I'd never had the LapBand. Luckily, the process was QUICK and didn't require too many hoops - I was sleeved exactly 11 weeks after my band was removed.

I'm curious, as to what the rules were with insurance companies that paid for revisions?

I am reaching out to anyone who can share help in getting Gastric Sleeve approved by Humana Medicare after an emergency Lap Band Removal with a low BMI 30. Are there Any Advocates that can help with a denial and now trying to Appeal? This is just not fair. I am sure there are a lot of Lapband removals Out there. Medicare guidelines are not up to the times of all these problems that are going on with failed Lapband and medical issues causing patients. Thanks for any feedback. BTW they told e to reapply when I reached 35... I have 3 of the comorbids and my band was successful too for me for 5 years.

On Tuesday I had a revision from a band to a bypass. I am extremely swollen and actually weigh 9 pounds more than I did the morning of surgery. How long did the swellinglast for others before you saw actual weight loss. Thanks!

My endo suggests I have a revision to sleeve or bypass from my band. I am pretty sure insurance will approve a revision pretty easily as I have regained almost all my weight. My question is this: My insurance requires a 6 month preop diet. (I did that with the band.) Will that requirement stand for a revision, or does the fact that I have a band serve as my medically supervised weightloss attempt?

There is a revision specialist by the name of Dr. Husted. He was writing on another board that the latest studies show that if you surgically reposition or replace a band, you have a 70% chance of another slip in the first five years. He was also referring to a conference he went to in FL and this was discussed a great deal and most at this conference will not be surgically repositioning or replacing bands anymore, they have had very low success with this. Is there any chance that a malabsorptive procedure might serve you a little better? You've been struggling for a long time, three years and not at goal yet... maybe you just need a bit more help?

Hi there- I am a revision patient. I had a band for almost 4 years - lost 40 pounds, gained back 20. Totally not worth it. That said, only you can decide if the sleeve is the right thing to do after the band. I wanted an "insurance policy" after I had my band taken out. I wanted to make sure that I wouldn't baloon up again after the band was gone. It has been 6 weeks since my revision and I am ECSTATIC with the results. The recovery was hard, but the positives outweigh the negatives. I am at a point where I can eat almost anything (but very small quantities) and it feels really good. Make sure you read through this board extensively - there is so much infromation here! Also, there is a band to sleeve revision topic on the main page (scroll down until you see it). A lot of us revision folks post info there. As far as your questions: 1. Is all this true? Averag weight loss is just that - an average. Since I have less to lose, I am not sure how close I will get to my goal or how soon. People lose well over 100 pounds with the surgery. 2. Are there more than 1 type of sleeve operations? There is one variation that I know of - sleeve plication. You might want to do a search on this board for "plication" and send messages to some of the folks who have had it done. It is not nearly as common. 3. Is it difficult to transition from the lapband to the sleeve? Surgically, it can be challenging if you have had complications or excessive scarring. The doc won't really know until they get in there and see what is going on. My revision was not terribly complicated - Dr removed scar tissue and adhesions from my liver and my total surgery time was less than 90 minutes. Emotionally, the transition has its ups and downs. You will feel restriction like you never had with the band. This is good, but the first few weeks on all liquids and very strict diet can be tough on you emotionally. The good thing is that it doesn't allow you to cheat. After 4-6 weeks you are eating normally (but a lot less) and it gets much easier. 4. Does Insurance cover it? (I have Blue Cross) For some people it does - you will have to explore that option. 5. Are there other important questions that I am not asking? Read through the boards extensively and you will most likely come up with a list of questions for your doctor. Also, feel free to ask all of us questions about our experiences. The knowledge and support here is invaluable. Good luck to you in your decision! Lara

I had the band out and 4 months later had a sleeve. Everyone gains weight while the band is out. I think surgeon number 2 is the way to go. It is harder to lose weight after a revision so why gain it and have to lose it again.

Ok, I've got a dilemma and maybe you all can help. Ok, so I visited my original band surgeon in February (surgeon #1) and inquired about the sleeve. He said "if you want it done, you will need to find another doctor". He is not in agreement with the sleeve and said that I would gain the weight back in one year. I really took that to heart and I had to make a choice. I love my original surgeon and I really wanted him to do the surgery, but per his response, in March I began to find a new surgeon Surgeon #2 is all for the sleeve and explain how he opposes the band because of it's "failure to produce long term weight loss" and said that he would take out the band and perform the sleeve all at once, but because of the revision I may have complications (which he explained was a standard disclaimer that he must warn to his patients; however, he's never had a patient return with complications). I thought wow, he must be some kind of amazing. So I began the process. I went to surgeon #1 last month (March) to inquire about the sleeve again and he was not for it still. I really love this dude Meanwhile, under surgeon #2, I had my psych eval and I will begin my two nutrition classes on Saturday, April 19th and paperwork will be submitted for surgeon #2 next week. With many prayers for an approval, I hope to have surgery next month. Thought, ok a third time is a charm, I went to surgeon #1 today and now he's on board with the sleeve surgery! What?? But here is the catch 22, he would remove the band next month and I must follow a three month diet w/o band. He will perform the surgery in July IF I can follow the dietitians plan. This complicates my decision because I would much rather have it done sooner than later and I do not trust myself without the band. And if I cannot follow the dietitian plan, is that to say he would not perform the sleeve? UGH What would you do??

Since I started out here as a potential lapbander I thought I would share with ya'll. I have a date for surgery! 8/7/06! I am having RNY just because I figure this is my only shot at weight loss , being a Medicare patient and figuring they wouldn't go for a revision if the band didn't work for me and knowing myself I am afraid I would have a problem with the idea of the port and having to drive 90 miles for a fill or unfill...just weighing all the pros and cons I decided on the RNY. I am nervous and excited. I will have my EGD on 7/20 and then the surgery on 8/7. Can you say YAAAAAY? :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

Hello everyone, so glad to have found this forum. Am 2 weeks post Op and in general, my recovery is excellent. However, am having problems drinking liquids!! I manage about 1 glass of water in 2-3 hours.. Really trying hard but it dies nit work too well. I am introducing natural coconut water, no sugar, and this goes a bit better. But still, 250 ml of it takes a whole day.. So far I lost 16 pounds, quite happy with it. My bowels work every two days, which I find quite OK. I am basically here to get some support for the long road ahead. Specially with the drinking, as I understand (and also according to my surgeon) that this is the most crucial part. Thanks a lot in advance and much success to us all!! Sent from my D6603 using BariatricPal mobile app

glad to hear you are well. I have the vsg and at the time of that surgery had a hiatus hernia repaired. after goiong back to my surgeon and some tests and careful thought I am off to have a revision to RNY today. I am so over this reflux and not eating well because of vomiting etc. Do worry that constapation will still be an issue so anyone has experience please let me know.

What made you choose sleeve over other options? DS or RNY? Looking to revise from band. Thanks!

Hi Don't know if this is in the right area or not. I hope I get some feedback. I had sleeve done 2yrs ago and glad I did. I have had problems with reflux before sleeve and still have it. If I don't take Nexium it is horrible. I also have anti-acid liquid and also degas (I can burp like a man lol). Had a barium swallow and endoscopy. Great news is no scaring on oesophagus and sleeve is in good nick. Bad news is I have a hiatus hernia (knew already) and it has brought some of my stomach above diaphragm. Surgeon said that he will need to do 2 surgeries - a cadioplasty to fix hernia and stomach and a RNY to help with the reflux. I had been getting too accepting the RNY but having another surgery as well is rather overwhelming. I am going back next week with any questions I have. Surgery is booked for 22nd August and it will be a long one. Have to admit he makes me laugh as he is very honest and upfront, something I appreciate in a surgeon. So my question is - has anyone gone through this? or even heard of it?

I used dr Cabrera and dr Venezuela for my revision, I was very pleased.

I am having my band to sleeve revision with Dr. Garcia on May 22nd. My two top choices were him and Dr. Aceves who is about twice the price but most experienced in the field in Mexico. Neither one pushed or tried to get me to have anything other than what I was requesting, the sleeve. Hope this helps!

It's three weeks till the big RNY. I thought I had it together, perhaps not? I don't have the pre-op liquid prep that most do. I'm doing my lung function test tomorrow which I'm scared of. I had pneumonia in late April, then again in early to mid May. The pneumonia is gone, but the cough still remains, for the most part. I have gurgling in my throat, possibly from all the post-nasal drip I keep swallowing. So I PRAY I pass! Im ending my second bottle of Prednisone. And I have been SO FREAKIN hungry! I have lost little since my second NUT visit and I fear pissing off my surgeon. I WANT to eat like there's no tomorrow. Could be side effect of Prednisone? But definitely a panic response. I was SO set and educated about the lifestyle change, And did it successfully, and will continue to do so. But I'm having these panic responses. I'm a revision from Band to RNY. What can I do to fight these very different urges to eat? Can I get away with a last supper here or there, or small cheats? I'm not going to be able, by necessity and CHOICE to eat some of the cravings I'm having for years. That, too, sets me into panic mode. It's really a tough time for me. A true test of my commitment. I am 48, and am being screened for uterine cancer, tomorrow too. I'm WAY stressed out about that. My Dad, 83, has been in and out of nursing homes and the hospital from complications from Leukemia. A lot more stress to that story. I'm completely broke. But the prize at the end of the tunnel is the RNY on 6/17. IF I pass all the "tests". I will die if it gets postponed. I've been prepping for this moment for years, and now that it's three weeks away, all the stress and panic is brewing in me full force. I am in shock. I am ready. I am obviously not aware of the test of self, post surgery. My therapist told me psychologically, the shits gonna hit the fan when I can't turn to eating, and food to cope. But then, we've been working on that all along. I don't know: Were YOU scared? Did you cheat? Do you pull your crap together eventually? I love you for reading this by the way, thank you! Vent-ology.....

Morning everyone! Revised 5/27, feeling great, had post surgery visit yesterday - all is well, besides the hematoma - posted a topic the other day - but all is well .... surgeon isn't that concerned. Yesterday morning, I was woken up by this weird feeling in my chest, sat up fast and boom - acid vomit - light green bile looking. Didnt think anything of it till today --- same thing - this time I didn't vomit but the acid/bile or whatever it is - is horrendous. I thought, or I was hoping, that the revision would take care of this - and this is worse than before the surgery -- fluke? I'm on Prilosec, but normally that doesn't work for me, so the surgeon gave me Protonix yesterday, which I love... always worked, as did Nexium. What could it be? Could it be lack of food? should I maybe eat something before going to bed - even if protein shake? Thanks - hope all is well with everyone!!!

Hi all. I am scheduled for lap band surgery on May 21st. I have Aetna and it is covered by insurance. Apparently fills aren't but the dr's office said they have ways of getting around that. My question is- I'm looking for a new job this summer and I'm concerned about getting new health coverage and not be covered in case of a band slip, revision, complications or future fills. Any advice? Thanks in advance...

Hello all, I had the VSG done a little over a year ago (June 2012). After 5 months post-op, I have not lost any weight and even gained 10 lbs back. I decided to look into getting a revision to either the RNY or the DS. My insurance approved revision to the RNY because I also have severe acid reflux. I weigh 185 and my BMI is currently approx 33. I was wondering if anyone revised from the sleeve to bypass, and if you could share what your experience was like? Did you lose the rest of your weight? What should my expectations be? I have heard of so many people who do not lose weight with the RNY. I know that surgery is a tool and it is up to me to utilize that tool properly. I admit that I have messed up a lot with the sleeve. I became unmotivated when I stopped losing weight. I don't know how much of this was my fault, but I have felt like I failed my sleeve. I really think that this is what I need to do to get focused again. Being much closer to my goal this time helps as well, I just don't know how effective having another surgery will be. I am looking for some positive and/or honest thoughts and advice about this decision. Thank you! =)

It's a gorgeous day in Philly. I am one week away from my band to sleeve revision with Dr. Aceves. I've been calling all my close friends (one at a time) to tell them about my decision to have this procedure. I am blessed they have been so supportive. Being 130 pounds overweight is killing me. Just getting out of a low chair or having to walk long distances is a struggle. Last October I lead a team of women on the 3 day, 60 mile walk for Susan G. Komen.. I trained like a crazy woman since I was so fat and was worried that I couldn't do it. We raised a ton of money...the walk was only 1 day becuase Philly had horrible weather...so I walked 17 miles one day....I was fat...but felt strong. Today...I walked 7 blocks to my office from home and was sweating and winded when I got here. I've gained 30 pounds in the past 6 months and it feels like a 1000. I know that I am not meant to live a diminished life. I am having this surgery becuase I hear the clock ticking on my own mortality. Fears of loose skin and a sagging face do haunt me....but not as much as dying the death of person who is morbidly obese.

Just wanted to ask to see if anyone had issues with infections.or any type of complication

Long time member but i haven't posted anywhere in ages, but I used to be on the Lapband board. I was a long time very successful band patient i was orginally banded in Jan 02 (in Canada, pre FDC approval) lost weight at a great rate. My first band (Innamed) slipped a total of 3 times before it came out for six months, I also had surgeries to move my port and another because my tubing disconnect. Next we went to the J&J band and it was great until it slipped badly, I had it for about 6-7 years and it worked like a charm, restriction was great most of the time, lost to my goal size and then it self tightened and i left it there because of travel, personal stress etc and i thought it would release on its own when i went for a defill it completely slipped around my esophagus and it was horrible. With the J&J I had a port revision surgery in there too. Then we tried a 3rd band it never worked right, I couldn't get restriction because if we did more than i had instant reflux etc. I revised to the sleeve last week with a new surgeon in Philadelphia who told me the band was basically around my esophagus and i had no pouch which is why I had no restriction and why I could not be tightened any more. But I lost about 150 lbs in 12-16 months and maintained that loss for 10 years plus, with little to no effort. In the meantime because of the band with no restriction, some prescribed evil steroids that I had to take that put 30lbs on me in a matter of 8 days... (they change your brain chemistry in weird ways) hashimoto's disease (hypo thyroid) fluctuations for the last few years and a few other things I gained about 70-80 lbs that I could not lose weight I tried. I went gluten free and dairy free, nada, I tried the HCG diet lost 20 lbs gained it back and generally I don't eat more than 1500-1700 calories per day including when I am drinking wine, eating out 3 meals a day etc. I hired a trainer, almost went paleo not quite. Now in talking to my surgeon he has said there are new studies showing band patients 9-12 years out who suddenly gain weight they can't lose for love nor money. They try everything and it won't come off more restriction, calories restriction etc. So we made a joint strategic decision to go to the sleeve since I knew the risk, what type of lifestyle change I was in for, portion control etc. wouldn't be a problem since i had it already. In our conversations we talked a lot about Ghrelin which is produced in the stomach and it makes you hungry, when you are feeling that craving to overeat or binge typically it is ghrelin and obese people produce more ghrelin than non obese people typically with some exceptions. We also talked about leptin which makes you feel satiated and is produced in the brain. With the sleeve, about 70-90% of the ghrelin produced is surgically removed with the part of the stomach they remove. i am curious have you noticed a difference in how hungry you get, cravings and the satiation of cravings ie: I can eat two bites of cake vs. I want the whole cake now? Have you also noticed the full feelings getting different than before from the leptin. My surgeon has said in his conversations with his patients they noticed their cravings reduced which helps them with portion control and in making better choices which helps a number of other things. In other words the brain and stomach don't conspire to make cheetos seem like a great dinner choice or ben and jerry your best friend. Overall I eat very healthy without a ton of junk food in my life we cook at home, we make our own stocks and Soups etc. to help get me through the liquids phase. But we do eat well and drink wine, we might be foodies (we are told we are, I just like trying new things). I have never eaten out of control even with the last band and no restriction just trying to lose weight has been terrible, depressing and frustrating. Especially after my first experiences which was I lost well, ate well, exercised and it worked like it was supposed too. I am a consultant and I travel for my job excessively so hence the eat out three meals a day most of the time I don't have a choice in that, but you can make healthy choices even in eating out and I do. I look at fats and calories along with Proteins and make good choices. Any thoughts you have I would appreciate and any advice you have I would love to read. Thanks for reading and good luck

I just had my revision 12 days ago. I am down 24 pounds since pre op diet started on 8/15. Ive lost 8 pounds post op. It was a rough go after surgery but I had extensive scarring from my band failure. I am 10000% happy with my rny so far. I was nervous and thought to back out but I am so happy to be on my new journey

I'll let you know soon! I'm having my band revised to RNY on the 15th!