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Sorry you've had to go through that! I have the Lap Band AP and my doctor specifically told me that he stitches the bands in to anchor them to prevent slipping. Hopefully, I'll never experience any slippage! Could you have revised to a VSG? I don't know much about that, but I have read on here there people have done that and are happy with the choice.

I agree, after spending 11 years with a worthless band I would have never revised to the sleeve. In less than 5 months I have had more success with gastric bypass than I did with all the years with the band. I just get happier everyday that I had it done. Sent from my VS880 using the BariatricPal App

If the doctor can't give you a concrete medical reason that the sleeve would be better for you despite your desire for the RNY, I would be a little suspicious of his motives and skills. There are legitimate reasons some people should have the sleeve over the bypass but if he honestly can't give you any and is pushing something you don't want... I don't know if I would feel comfortable continuing at that office. This is your body and whichever procedure you get is going to change you and your life forever. It should be your decision if there are no medical reason's otherwise. That being said, there are a lot of people who start at a high bmi and have a lot of success with the sleeve, from what I've seen. I personally chose the RNY because my weight when I started the program was about 400 pounds and I wanted the most bang for my buck. Not to mention, a LOT of people who get the sleeve eventually have to revise to bypass anyway. One major surgery is enough for me.

Don't see what age has to do with it. if you need a revision get a revision. I'm only 49 but never would have considered my age as a factor. so thrilled to be rid of that miserable piece of junk that was permanently damaging my body. there are tons of people in their 60's and older who have had bariatric surgery. so I think you are probably fine. if you do a search of forums in here you will find them. good luck with your revision.

My revision to correct the band slippage was covered by my BCBS of Minnesota. However, now that my band is not working AT ALL after the surgery to fix it....I wondered if insurance would cover the removal and change to the sleeve now. Also wondering how that process is as far as recovery time and starting to lose weight again. I've heard the sleeve isn't as effective after having the lap band, so that concerns me. Thanks for the replies!!!!

I just revised from lap band to the sleeve as it was so uncomfortable for me and I didn't like always having to adjust it or stuck episodes. It's great for many, just wasn't for me. Can you try a pouch reset diet for a few days and cut the soda to try to get your restriction back?

I saw some great responses. I agree it is possible to get the same results with no surgery. I definitely considered going the no revision route by just dieting correctly. Surgery doesn't make you lose weight. Your body loses weight if you eat healthy food with fewer calories. Problem is, we've failed at some point so any advantage you can get is a good thing. For me, the out of pocket cost of the surgery $5k isn't a factor since I eat meals at home or pack lunches now instead of take out. I'm eating less and the surgery pays for itself. The health benefits I can expect getting out of the Obesity class are worth it. If I can get off high blood pressure medication, avoid getting diabetes or needing a hip replacement, that's life changing. I'm 48 years old. I tell people I'm doing this to add years to my 70s.

I also was self pay. I had my Lap Band here in the states in 2006 and paid $17,000. I had the revision to the VSG in June 2011 in Mexico with Dr. Aceves for $11,200.

I am almost 4 weeks out from revision. My incisions are almost healed. I haven't slimmed or gotten stuck even one time. I am already eating pretty normally. There is a very light feeling of pressure when I have had enough. I am definitely not hungry after I eat. I went to a dessert reception the other night and I just didn't want any. That is a first for me. I am so glad to have the band out. It felt like a time bomb ready to give me a problem. The last time I went for a fill it was 300.00. I do not miss that! I felt weak the week after surgery but I was thinking to day. I cannot remember feeling this well in a very long time. I am so glad I did this. I do feel sorry for my husband. He has paid for a lap band, a sleeve for my daughter (she has lost 100 lbs since last July) and a sleeve for me. He is a very kind man that wants what we want! Good luck to everyone...it is awesome!

On November 11, 2008 I was banded and lost 40 pounds. I loved my band until 2015 when my port became painful unrelated to the fills. The pain was everyday for the past 8 years. My healthcare Team was not able to determine why I’m having continuous pain in the port. Anyway, on February 1, 2023 I’m having the band removed and the gastric sleeve done on the same day. I am not afraid of the surgery because this will be number 16, but I am concerned about is the port. I am hoping the doctor will see what had been causing me port pain.

I went through a similar experience with my band. I was banded in 2011, lost restriction in 2013 and found our the catheter broke, I had pain in my lower abdomen, went to the ER for them to say it was a UTI. I went to my regular doc who said nothing was wrong. Finally, I went to my bariatric doc and found it was disconnected through the CT scan. I went for a revision surgery. In 2015, I lost restriction and they had a hard time filling and unfilling me, so my surgeon suggested the sleeve. So far, this has been the BEST decision! I've lost so much more weight than with the band and I feel "normal" with the sleeve. Good luck with what you choose!

Im your weight and height but im a revision on may 2 any suggestions

I had my revision in one surgery on May 6th. My Dr. said the longer you have the band in the more damage it can do to your stomach thus two surgeries for some. My band was only in for 16 months so I was good to go. I had no preop diet except for the day before. I just went for my post op one month today and I went from 164.5 to 148.5 in four weeks. I am eating regular food now because my Dr. doesn't have as strict diet guidelines as some others and have had minimal problems. I can eat chicken, chili, potatoes, veggies, and even tried a quesadia and a wake up egg white wrap from Dunkin donuts. I feel so much better. No pain when I eat. The only thing hard to get used to is with the band if your bite of food isn't going down you know immediately. With the sleeve I have eaten things and been fine and then get a big stomach ache and diahrea about 20-30 minutes after eating if it doesn't agree with me. It happened with cream soup about 2.5 weeks out. Best of luck, you will do great!

Good luck with everything, and I am so sorry to hear about your husband, that is so sad.. I couldn't imagine what you have been through. The revision for me was very smooth.. Good luck honey.. My thoughts and prayer are with you..

Thanks for all of the great advice! I called and cancelled my fill and I'll go when I start feeling a little more hungry. I started working out again last week after taking time off for my port revision surgery and I'm worried if I get a fill I won't be able to eat enough to balance the work outs.

I had surgery on 7/27. I had the lap band since 2002, so I was revised to the sleeve. My journey has been pretty smooth! I think having experience with the band help me with handling the sleeve. It is so important to eat slow and chew a lot. I find that if I have no distractions it is easier to concentrate and to make sure I'm not mindless eating. I have been weighing myself every morning, which I don't recommend :-) it drives you insane :-). Let me know if you have any questions, I would be happy to help if I can!

Goal is attainable for every patient in my honest opinion. Statistically, revision patients lose slower, and some do not get to goal. I don't know why, I never really read that much information out there about it, just a few articles here and there. Anyway, my surgeon didn't expect me to get to goal of 150 at 5'2" because I was a revision, and because of his patient's experience especially with band to RNY revisions. I surpassed is goal by 28-29lbs, and he could not believe it when he saw me almost 2 weeks ago. He hadn't seen me since September 15th (3.5months post revision) due him being deployed overseas. He was simply amazed that I had "gotten so skinny" and looked as great as I do currently. I was okay with a goal weight of 150lbs. It still had me at an overweight BMI, but I thought I would be okay at that weight. Now, I honestly can't imagine weighing 150lbs. I wouldn't mind hitting 127-130, but anything over that, and I think I'd cut carbs again and drop a few pounds. I can't gain to save my life right now. **knock on wood**

I put on 40 lbs since my VSG in 2018. I filled out a health questionnaire for Mexico Bariatric Center. Just got approved from one of their Doctors. Not sure if I want to try and take this off traditionally or try the revision. I think it's 3 times the price here in the USA.

I was off mp BP ,Metformin, cholesterol medication and no longer have Sleep apnea. Almost immediately after my sleeve surgery. But my reflux is much worse than it was before. Had to add more medication for it. Waiting for approval from my insurance companies for the RNY revision to get rid of the reflux (praying that it works)!! Sent from my SM-G960U using BariatricPal mobile app

I'm three weeks tomorrow from a revision from LapBand to sleeve. I thought I would be ready to return to work quickly, but I've decided that I'm waiting this out. I had planned on returning to work the week of Thanksgiving but have decided to hold off until the next week. I get tired-really tired-after I do much of anything. I work in sales and spend a lot of time in the car and can't imagine driving for three or four hours now. I'd fall asleep! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I agree with you both I truly believe logging our food is key. I got the band five years ago and was revised to RNY two weeks ago. I have logged my food ( good, bad, ugly) for the last six 5.5 years. I can show you exactly when I gained and why. I am a meal skipper and if I don't break my calories up into 5-6 small meals/ snacks I am doomed. I have tried several of the applications but always come back to my fitness pal. I love spark people too but there is too much information on that site for day to day tracking (imo ).

Hi everyone. I have been lurking around this board for a little while as I have been researching the band. I am going to an info session w/ Dr Carcamo in San Antonio, Tx next Monday. 3 of my coworkers have been banded by him (well...one by his partner, Dr Wright but from what I understand they do all surgeries together, but she sees Dr Wright pre&post op, the other two are w/ Dr Carcamo). I am fortunate that I work for an employer that is very supportive of WLS. A few other coworkers have had bypass. My BMI is right at 40 and I have no comorbid conditions...well, i have no diagnosed comorbid conditions by my PCP. I have had high cholesterol for the past 5 consecutive years but have never went to my PCP to discuss. My employer has a medical company come onsite once a year and performs physicals, including lab work, yearly. This is a requirement in order to have continued insurance coverage that my employer provides. My employer also provides weekly WeightWatcher meetings on site free to employees w/ a BMI over 35. I have been attending meetings regularly but I do not like WeightWatchers. Other than the high cholesterol that showed up on lap work I have no other comorbid conditions -- YET. It's only a matter of time before I do. My family history is horrible and puts me at risk for a lot of health conditions. I have been researching the band for a few months and feel it may be the right way to go for me. The 3 coworkers I have spoken to about it love it and are all for me getting it. One is about a year post op and the other one is nearly 2 years. The 3rd is only a few months out. In addition, all say that I should have no problem getting our insurance to cover it (I have United Healthcare). One coworker got denied the first time and she got HR involved and it ended up being approved in 2 days. My employer's healthcare coverage is 'self funded', meaning the company pays the claims an uses UHC as a benefit administrator only. I don't know if that makes a difference or not. My main concerns is what happens in 20,30,40 years? I am 32 yrs old and I plan on being around for awhile. Where are the studies that document the results after 20-30 year period? I am assuming there are none since this is a fairly new thing. Also, one coworker told me that Dr Carcamo has never had to remove a band. This concerns me. Obviously I am going to ask him myself to verify. It concerns me b/c what if mine needs to be removed for whatever reason? Do I really want to be his first guinea pig? At the same time all of my research on this doctor has shown him to be excellent. In addition, I keep thinking to myself -- if my 3 coworkers love the band...have had NO complications...have been successful -- what are the odds that the same will happen to me? I keep thinking I will be the one that the band slips, or needs a port revision, or something. I hate to think about the bad stuff, but the reality is, I HAVE to. I understand that the band is not the cure. I understand this isn't a magic pill. My lifestyle will change and I will only be successful w/ diet and exercise for the rest of my life. I have about 90 pounds to lose. That just seems so overwhelming to me considering as to how I can lose weight, but it's a struggle to keep it off. My husband at first was NOT supportive at all. We got in several huge fights about it and now he has come around. He understands that I need to do this for my health. At any rate, I am looking forward to my info session next week. Regards, J

Hi there Gaining weight quite rapidly with the band... When (mean what weight or bmi) did you start thinking about revison? I am self pay. Lost 6 stones and gained 2 back over the summer. Banded for 4 years Thanks

I had surgery in 09/16th, so 3-weeks and 2-days ago and I had a lap-band removal and revision to RNY. My doctor has me progressing with food such as crumbled hamburger meat with cheese. Hopefully, you can have that soon. I am drinking plenty of fluids everyday and taking the Vitamins as directed. It gets better.

Yes I just found out I have it. I havent had my script filled because I am having to get the doc to revise it. The pills are too HUGE! I found out because she said my stomach had inflammation when they removed it and pathology came back postive. It made me nervous because I know it can lead to ulcers and with what little tummy we have we don't need ulcers. The treatment is suppose to get rid of it though. Did you have symptoms? I have mild unexplained nausea for little over a year. My PCP never tested me for it so it went undiagnosed until surgery.