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I won't bore you with my band horror story. I highly recommend you checking out the research links at the bottom of this very long post for VSG information. This huge entry is directly from the band makers. It's a study they did, it's not just personal stories, this is scientific evidence. Easy break down, 1 in 4 band patients will have another surgery to either remove, reposition (after a slip then you're risks for another slip quadruple), revise to another surgery, or repair the band will happen in the first 3 years of having the band. Think twice, cut once. I had the band for 8 short months, if you'd like to add me as a friend so you can read my torrid tale of my band life and the VSG revision feel free to do so. I've included some of the information for you to read now. I have tons of information in my blog. I could NEVER in good spirit recommend the band knowing what I know now. I have recommended the sleeve to 7 friends, 5 have followed through with the surgery and we're all living fabulous, full active lives. http://www.lapband.c...ty_information/

i want you to make your own decision, but i had the band for 4 years and i have hade the sleeve for 17 days. i wish i would have started with the sleeve and never had the band. its totally different...like night and day. the band is a lot of maintenance and for me i never found that sweet spot. i was either way too tight and throwing up everything i ate or it was too lose and i would gain back what i lost from vomiting. i hope you make this decision on your own and make peace with it before surgery, but my opinion is get the sleeve. ive done both and i can tell you i hated that damn band and im so happy its gone! have you been to the thread on here "band to sleeve revisions"? there are quite a few of us on here and im sure you can read other stories about the differences between band and sleeve on there. dont be nervous... i know its scary ,i had 2 band surgeries and 1 sleeve surgery. i was scared too, but you will be so happy when you start losing weight. good luck! shaundra

I would think long and hard about this decision. I had the revisions and coming to terms to accept my decision. It's incredibly difficult. I need to stop wishing I could go back in time. You can't reverse this like the lapband. That might sound good...but what ig something goes wrong. Acid reflux issues are real and they impact your life quality. Your young, can you live for the next 40 or 50 yrs without the majority of your stomach? Is it rational to destroy a healthy organg for weight loss when regain is real. Ppl do regain. All the best

Revising a band isn't rare. Stanford (ca) recommend it to me because of my band issues.They made sure to walk my insurance through because my BMI was under 30. It is rare to place bands these days, at least at a hospital like Stanford which has experts in the field who are teaching doctors. My doctor did 3 revisions after mine on 12/15. But they also have a strong belief of taking the band out and allowing 2 months of healing prior to the next surgery.

Congrats! It's going to be an exciting journey! I go in for my band to bypass revision just a few days after you on the 24th! I'm trying to hustle and get everything I need for the post-op diet. Hope to see you following up on here about your progress!

Wow, Little Miss Diva. This post of yours really spoke to me. I could have written most of it. Hunger has always been my biggest problem and when I was young and thin I used to eat a lot to feel satisfed but I didn't gain weight and I didn't think about food. Hungry? Eat until not hungry then don't think about food. But that all changed as I started to put on a few pounds. Went to my first WW meeting weighing 136 pounds at 5'6". And when I started dieting I put on over 120 lbs the next 30 years. I am currently banded and it has never worked for me. I have been banded for 2 1/2 years. I have a 4cc band. At no fill level from zero to 3cc did it ever stop me from being hungry. At 3cc's I had pain, pressure, reflux and heartburn and my former surgeon blamed me. But an upper GI showed I was too tight. I got all my information and went for a second opinion to my current doctor who told me I had a 4cc band (my former surgeon told me it was a 10cc). Like you, any weight I lost was through the 6 month pre-op and the 2 week liquid only diet both pre and post op. I was starving. All of this resulted in a loss of 60 lbs. and I only lost 15 pounds since then. So, 75 lbs and most of it was from starving and willpower. I exercise every day and eat healthy but I am always hungry. I am totally unfilled now due to a very bad stuck episode a year ago that resulted in a trip to the ER and overnight stay. It hurt so bad I couldn't speak and felt like I was shot. I am 60 years old and I think I am too old to get a revision but when I read the experience of those who went from band to sleeve it sounds like everything I thought the band would be but isn't. I thought it would control my hunger and I could just eat small quantities of healthy food and exercise and I would lose weight and not have to think about food all the time and struggle. I fear putting on weight and am so tired of being hungry. I don't know what to do since insurance doesn't pay for the sleeve and I can't afford it as of yet. I don't think they'd do it on someone my age, anyway. Would they? I am getting criticized and insulted on LBT because I don't like it when people post harsh comments to struggling posters. Or tell them that they failed the band not the other way around. Or tell the truth about my band experience. Did you get that? I'm not sure what to do at this point. Any suggestions?

and they cover revisions. band to sleeve

I'm having surgery on September 13, and have a wedding reception for my best friend to attend on September 29. I don't suspect that I'll feel much like dancing, and she already knows that I'm having surgery and can't eat or drink, but I definitely want to be there and celebrate this amazing part of her life. Can some of you share how you were feeling that far out? I have had several surgeries before and have a fairly high pain tolerance. This is a revision from a sleeve to the bypass, I just can't recall from when I had the sleeve how I was feeling after 2 weeks... I did go back to work after two weeks with my last surgery, so I'm guessing I'll be okay to go to a reception at 2 1/2 weeks? thoughts?

I revised from the band to the sleeve after 8 short months. The sleeve and band are only similar in the fact that they are only restrictive procedures. The disadvantage of the band is your restriction will vary, the first 2-3 months, your stomach is swollen, but then you have to get fills to hit the "sweet spot". I never got there, and quit losing, and even gained back a few of the initial 25-27lbs I lost the first 3 months. Every day was a surprise with the band. Some days, I could eat any food (except for bread) then other days, I couldn't get yogurt down without sliming and throwing up. Food got stuck even though I chewed it up to mush. There haven't really been any disadvantages to having the sleeve for the last 4 months. I've enjoyed all the foods I did before surgery just in smaller portions. I've only gotten something stuck once, and it wasn't the same as things getting stuck with my band. The constant aftercare and maintenance of the band was just inconvenient and disappointing. I've been beyond pleased with my results with the sleeve, and have zero regrets.

Hi I copied this from a post of Donna's. The list is excellent and I hope it helps. Doddie These are just a few of the questions that come to mind that are important in helping to make a decision in deciding which band surgeon and/or clinic to go with: · Is there a fee for consultation? · Are any of your staff at the clinic banded? · What other staff are available to patients such as dieticians, nutritionists, psychologists? o Is there a cost for their services? · Does the clinic have a website and a messageboard and or chatroom available for Lap Band potential patients to access? · What percentage of your bariatric clinic is devoted to lap band patients? · What is your medical education? · What experience in term of years and number of procedures do you have in lap band surgeries? · What experience do you have in performing revisions? · If you are a revision, what tests will you need to have done ahead of time to be sure you can have a lap band? · Do you have any statistics regarding your lap band practice and number of patients who have had slippages, band erosions or other complications? · What type of warranty comes with your lap band surgery? · What type of bands do they use and how do they determine the type and size? · Is there a pre-op diet you need to follow? o If so is there a cost involved? How much? · If I don't follow the pre op diet perfectly am I still allowed to get the surgery? · What tests and paperwork do I need to have done prior to being accepted for banding? o Is there any charge? How much? o What is the time span? · Is the surgery performed in the clinic or at the hospital? · In case of an emergency what is the procedure that is followed? · How soon after surgery can I go home? · What type of accreditation does your clinic have? · How do your operating rooms compare to those in a hospital if surgery is performed at the clinic? · Can you give me references from other patients I may talk to, especially those who are a revision from past weight loss surgery? · How long am I required to be in town before my surgery? · Is there a hotel that is recommended? o If so, is there a preferred rate at this hotel? o Is there a shuttle available from this hotel to clinic and back and how much does this cost? · Are my family members allowed to remain in the waiting room while I am in surgery or are they asked to leave until I am in the recovery room? · How long after I wake up can I go home? · What special medications will I need to purchase before hand? o Gas-x? liquid Calcium? chewable multi Vitamins? .... · How long would you recommend I take off work after surgery? · If I have a hernia do you fix this? o Is there an extra cost associated? · How long do I have to have a caregiver with me after surgery? · Is there someone I can hire to be my caregiver if I come alone? · Do you use latex? · Is there a deposit I have to pay to hold my surgery? o How much? o Is it refundable if I change my mind? · How must my final payment be made -- money order/visa/cheque? o Does it have to be in before my surgery or do I bring it with me on my surgery day? · If I have further questions may I contact you or your clinic with them? Even more important is follow up care: · What type of aftercare program does their clinic have? · What is covered in the cost of your surgery in regards to aftercare? · Is there an after hour phone number in case of an emergency or concern you encounter outside of normal business hours? o Is he/she available on call to answer or return your call? o Who responds to calls? · Do you have support groups available locally and in my area? · Is there a fee for any aftercare services? · How soon after surgery is your first fill usually? · What hours am I able to come in for fills and days? · How often between fills are you eligible for your next one? · How are the fills performed and are they with or without fluoroscopy? · Do you have to pay for your fills or are they covered in your surgery fee? o If they are not covered what is the fee? · If you live far away from the band clinic, do they have anyone local or closer to your home who is trained by the clinic to do your fills? o If so do you pay a fee to them and if so how much? · In case of complications post op, if you had a slippage or worse case scenario band erosion is any further surgery to remove the band covered or would you have to pay? · In case of a defective port or leak is the surgery to replace it covered in the lap band surgery cost? · In case of a defective lap band is it replaced at no cost to you the patient? · If you needed a new band for any reason such as the above or band leak, etc., is it replaced free of charge to you? o If not what type of cost would you be responsible for? · At the clinic does the surgeon do your follow up fills or fill nurses? o If nurses, what training do they have and can you meet them before committing to this surgery? · What criteria do they base your needing a fill or defill? · How long does it take when calling to book a fill does it take to get an appointment? · How much time is the fill nurse allotted to spend with you answering any questions or concerns also? · Are any of your staff at the clinic banded? · What other staff are available to help patients, i.e., dieticians, nutritionists, psychologists? o Is there a cost for their services? · Does the clinic have a website and a messageboard and or chatroom available for Lap Band patients to access?

This is definitely a personal choice and depends on what your surgeon prefers. I know some people who are 100% stuck on one or the other. I have a realize band and I'm quite happy with it! I've read the realize band port is better for different reasons and is not as likely to flip. I also know sisters who have bands (one with a realize and one with a lapband) both have been very successful but the one with the lapband wants a revision to the realize band because of the port. Since I only have the realize band, I can't truly say which one is better or if one is better than the other. I think it depends on the person.

6 days post op! How's everyone else doing? When do you plan on returning to work? What are you consuming? Hungary? Pounds lost?

Hi Robin, It's nice to see someone close to home on here. I currently live in Lorena, but I'm from Waco. Have you had your surgery? I am waiting for approval for revision from lap band to rny. Since I had my original surgery elsewhere, S&W wouldn't take me when I started having problems with the band. I couldn't even get help at Hillcrest where I work. If you need a buddy close to home, please message me. I hope all is well with you

The first thing I will tell you is that with the band (just like with other WLS) patient compliance and vigilance is the key. You will need to be compliant with the rules the doctors give you, and treat your band with respect. It is a part of you and part of your new life style. You must be vigilant to keep an eye on your behavior. No weight loss surgery or tool will help you with head hunger or emotional eating. YOU have to work on these things, and once you are committed to making a change in your life you will. If you are not ready for the sleeve and you pulled the plug in the 11th hour then I am going to tell you that you are not ready for the band or any other WLS either. Take the time you have now to prepare. Visit bariatric Dr.'s take seminars, speak to banded people go to a local support group and hear from WLS patients and their experience. There are some I know who went into surgery unwillingly their Dr. told them they MUST because of their obesity and other co-morbidities, however as "unwilling" they might have thought they were...they were more willing then most who "choose" to have the surgery because their minds are made up for them by the pain and stress of competing issues. Foods, pastry, chocolate (insert your issue here) vs. Walking freely or breathing on your own...hmmm not too hard of a choice right? So wait until you are ready and then decide what is the right surgery for you that you think you will find the best success with. I chose the band even though my obesity level and co-morbtiy levels might have had a Dr. recommend the sleeve or bypass I still chose the band. I know I can "control" the band and I have some flexibility with the band to allow it to fit into my ever changing life style. I can loosen it when I need to as I did to heal after a car accident or illness and I can go right back to my sweet spot again when my body is ready. If I ever had a complication I could and would revise to another surgery and you lose some of that option if you start out with the other surgeries first. However as medical science keeps growing there are so many options to mix and match modalities. Don't get lost in it all, take some time do your due diligence ask loads of questions and then make your decision. Best of luck to you!

Thanks! It was a very long 3 months. I had my revision Jan 13 2014 and up until now I've only lost 7-10lbs. I was getting very frustrated lately because the scale hasn't moved and I was reading how it seemed like every other person out there was dropping weight like crazy and it seemed liked they weren't doing anything to lose the weight. Since I can eat more that 600-800 calories at a time I will have to work harder at losing the weight. I am determined to get results and lose this weight!

If you have acid reflux or similar issues then i was told not to do sleeve. I am having bypass next week. I chose it because Ive seen alot of revision stories (not saying sleeve isnt good or doesnt work because there are many success stories as well) but for me personally, I wanna make sure I only have to go through it once. I figure ill go all in. I realize i am at higher risk for vitamin deficiencies, but i will happily replace my blood pressure meds etc. with vitamins if it means being a healthier weight!

Thank you! I had a breast augmentation, LBL with butt lift, medial thigh lift and TT and belly button scar revision.

I think Crystal who originally set up the poll got her surgery date moved to January and is a member of the New Year's Knockouts. I will post o revised poll and we can vote again since there are a lot of new people. Amy

So far so good , I am loving the sleeve, it's nothing like the band, when I am full, I am full, no food getting stuck, no puking up when I eat or drink (yaaa) no hunger feeling, I absolutely love it!! I am 7 weeks out and have lost 29 lbs. I am very happy with the results so far, I am doing zumba again, and have joined a gym. the inches are melting off so glad I made the decision to have the revision. Just wanted to update!!!!

When I originally had my band done back in 2012 the surgeon told me that he thought my GERD was related to a hernia and if it was when he got in there he was going to fix it. It was and he did. I had a revision to a sleeve 2 weeks ago and have had no problems with GERD. None since the hernia repair.

@@Shells_Almost_There - I'm not sleeved, but I stopped at your topic because it may come to be. From what I glean amid all the detail, you're considering revision surgery to achieve a smaller stomach than you have now? To curb your appetite and decrease the stomach's capacity? If so, it sounds that you want to rely on surgery to lose weight for you rather than doing the mindful work and making sound choices for yourself. It sounds like dismal choice. We are separate individuals, certainly. From my perspective, admittedly one with little knowledge of sleeving, I'd feel lesser as a person. I don't want to give up autonomy and personal responsibility; I want to earn the satisfaction and pride of achievement. Your regain is 15 pounds from your lowest, post-surgery weight. No one wants regain, but 15 is not uncommon and nowhere as high as it could be, obviously. Consider whether the amount is really so overwhelming that going to the OR makes any sense. If you don't want to recommit to your original goal and want to evade doing the work for yourself, it's likely that you won't get where you say you want to go. There's something called "eating around the band," i.e., eating things that go down easily and never give satiety (anything sugar and most things crunchy, such as chips). I understand that there's an equivalent for sleeve people. If you don't know that full routine now, you're sure to find it. You've lost weight before. You can get back to it, maybe with a therapist who has experience with WLS people, eating disorders and all that.

There are a few minor tweaks that are commonly done to bypasses to try to improve things, like band over bypass or stoma tightening procedures, but they overall don't seem to have a great success record. The best results revisionwise is to revise to the DS (duodenal switch) but that's a complex procedure for which maybe a half dozen or so surgeons around the country are qualified - you are in luck if you are in California or the NY/NJ area as that's where most of them are, otherwise count on travelling for that solution.

Some Drs in Mexico will bypass more of your intestine, and some will tighten your pouch. You are better off just eating dense protein than risking another surgery when you probably have scar tissue from the last one. Look at this Lady's YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZLTY6f9v_YrH7FqVUn7Mw You can't really revise from RNY, not safely anyway. RNY is a one shot thing. This lady has revised and tried to revise with nothing but problems. She always talks about revisions but doesn't focus much on food, well not as much as she should have.

I had my lap band revision to sleeve surgery March 11th and I'm so dying for real food!! Every single Friday night for the past 22 years we order pizza, and I've been ok with it, but today I'm really wanting to just lick a slice or something!! I hate these protein shakes and this full liquid diet!! Can't wait to eat some mushy food!!! UGH!! Why did I do this to myself????

I am not a veteran (almost 8 months from RNY and only have 5 pounds left to a normal BMI). I can eat anything I want but with that being said the following make me feel really ill afterwards so I avoid: Any and all fried foods, ice cream (but I can eat Dark chocolate candy-think the ice cream goes down to easy and then I feel terrible ) white carbs (I can eat whole grains in very small portions). I stick to the following foods that make me feel awesome! Fish and a veg, steak and a veg, pork and a veg and eggs. I LOVE a my RNY! I had lapband previously (was a successful lapbander but my band eroded so had the revision) wish I had done the RNY first lol