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I relate with you. I just went through a revision almost 2 weeks ago. The things that ran around my head! Oh man. I don't know what surgery you are gearing up for but we all go through that. I said to my husband the night before "Not worried about making it through surgery, nor the temporary pain afterwards but I sure hope I'm not making a huge mistake that I can't retract later in life." For me, so far (yes, I am still worried about problems down the road as we all are.) everything has been great and I feel like now, I'd do it over and over again. Life isn't really different except that I'm feeling better, sleeping better and am enjoying the additional weight loss. And it is not like many of the things I've heard on YouTube or forums that frightened me. Hugs to you and keep us posted.

Cleo's mom- I just had the revision because what bothered me about the band is that when food did get stuck - I rarely threw up but would dry heave. Then I would go finish my meal. Or in a restaurant- I couldn't eat the whole meal because I was getting stuck but as soon as I got home I would finish it because I was still hungry. I'm still in the liquid phase but what I want is that if I take leftovers home- I won't eat them until the next day because I'm satisfied for the night. I'm praying that this works but right now I'm focused on my body healing & following the doctors instructions.

I had the lap band surgery done in 2008. It never worked as promised for anything. It never caused me to have satiety. It just made it painful to eat. My surgeon was inexperienced and put a 4cc band in but told me it was 10cc so I was confused at to why 3cc of fill was causing me so many problems. He ordered an upper GI and found out why and immediately took out 1.5 cc (nothing was getting through). He had unrealistic expectations for weight loss (wanted 10-15 lbs in 3 weeks post surgery and without any fill). I left him and went to another doctor at another hospital who was satisfied with my weight loss at that point. However, I always had left shoulder pain (my original doctor never heard of this), I never felt satisfied, none of my vital statistics improved, and neither did my back pain. So, after a major stuck episode in 2009 that took me to the ER, all the fill was removed. And I only went back to the doctor I think once after that - haven't been back in years. I still get some stuck episodes but have learned how to make myself throw up. Very unpleasant. And the left shoulder pain. And the ability to eat the wrong but not the right foods. So, I want this band out and am taking the initial steps to do so, however, I don't know if I want to go through another surgery - gastric sleeve - at this time. After all the failures of the band I don't know if I have the motivation to not eat this type of food or that type (e.g. bread, Pasta, rice - you know all the stuff the band has problems with). I am 64 years old and although so many say the sleeve is what they thought the band would be - I am not sure at my age I can go through all this again. How much follow up is there to the sleeve? Do you lose your hair? Do you get stuck? Are there foods you can't eat (not because of calories but because of the sleeve)? I'm not looking for any easy way out - but I have to be honest that my motivation isn't what it was 7 years ago due to all the disappointments already. Any suggestions?

I am scheduled for a sleeve revision to gastric bypass, however I never heard of a mini bypass. Can you explain what the difference is?

I had mild GERD before I was sleeved in 2011, I experienced it again after I had my sleeve (for about 3 years) and it just got worse. No matter what I eat or drink, I have horrible GERD & burping. The PPI’s aren’t working for me and I have tried different doses. Long story short, I am now getting revised to RNY in 6 weeks. I was not informed 7 years ago about GERD being a problem with the sleeve but I am not even sure if it was well known back then either Good luck to whatever you choose!

It has been a long time since I posted on this forum. I was sleeved in October 2018 and immediately began suffering from reflux/GERD (which I did not have prior to sleeve). Fast-forward 2 1/2 years later, loads of PPI's, EGD's, barium swallows, scans, scopes and referrals, I was finally advised by a surgeon that my best option is to have revision of the sleeve to the bypass. I have a mid grade hiatal hernia and severe GERD. It's gratifying to finally get some answers and while I am looking forward to some relief, I am a bit anxious about the surgery. I relocated from Houston to Dallas, TX in May. I consulted with a new bariatric surgeon on May 26th. Once the ball got rolling, everything went pretty quickly. After thoroughly reviewing my previous surgery and medical records along with additional testing, she determined that in addition to the hernia and GERD, my original pouch from the VSG wasn't as small as it should have been! That explains why I had such slow and minimal weight loss. I lost about 40lbs total, and have regained 20lbs back since COVID. Has anyone had revision from VSG to RNY with hiatal hernia repair due to GERD? If so, has your GERD improved and how has the weight loss been?

Im the odd one out perhaps since I was hoping for RNY to have some amount of calorie malabsorption due to extremely slow metabolism. Turned out the doctor agreed anyway since I had severe GERD so bad my ears would burn from it. Both have similar surgeries and recovery, the only difference is more initial restriction with RNY. Better to have RNY now than have sleeve and end up needing revision later. RNY is seen as the gold standard.

Yesterday, I was Dx with achalasia (failure of the LES to open in response to swallowing). My surgeon is reluctant to recommend revision to sleeve as a result. Has anyone here revised with this condition and had a good outcome?

I had lap band and port removed on 8/10/15 due to complications from prolapse and then slip 9 months later, all which had cause me to vomit everything I ate. I had lap band for 4 years. Lost 80 pounds. Since removal, I have had NO reflux or heartburn which has been amazing. I haven't had much of an appetite and have had pain at the port site, but pain has improved every day. I had gained 8 pounds due to surgery, but have lost 7 pounds over night last night. I am now on a soft food diet until my post op appt and have been logging my calories on fitness pal and using my Vivosmart activity tracker. I have been focusing on protein to keep up my energy level. Drinking water, premier protein shakes, low fat cottage cheese, and eggs with some grape or orange juice when my head feels "swimmy". I plan to revise to gastric bypass based on my surgeons recommendations in October/November after I heal up from this. I can't wait to get back to Zumba after clearance from my surgeon. I will work my butt off to keep my weight maintained until my revision. Here is my most recent belly pic. It is healing and I am allowed to shower. The biggest incision still hurts but pain has improved. See my belly face? The 2 small incisions are the eyes and my actual belly button is the mouth LOL. Belly is still swollen, I am sure it will go down soon

Thanks puppypaws and icunurse for your comments. I want to have my eyes open when I do this. I have a pre-op discussion with my surgeon on August 10. Plan to ask his experiences with putting in a second band. My only choices are to 1) do nothing, 2) have band removed, 3) have it removed and replaced, or 4) pay the full tab and revise to a sleeve. Before I opt for #4, I would like to see what king of results I have with a second band. puppypaws and icunurse, how are you doing with weight loss since the second band? If there is anyone else out there with a second band experience, please chime in.

I am in the process of the same type process. I have been very successful with my sleeve, however the acid reflux is out of control. I have had every test known to man this last 2 months and I am FINALLY almost to the point to get my surgery date to revise me to RNY - I also am so so nervous. I don't specifically want to lose anymore weight, I am 5'6 and 143lbs, so I am happy with this and have maintained for well over a year. Do you suspect you would have more weight loss with the revision? I mean, in my mind I think that I probably wouldn't due to the fact I am at a healthy weight now and maintain a healthy diet. What are you thoughts? BEST of luck, and keep the updates coming !

It's finally happened. I went in today for a much-needed Fill under flouro and had 2 huge disappointments. Today was a great day. I am scheduled to go a birthday celebration later (so in case I was too late to come back home and change) so I was dressed up, fluffed up and was given compliments all day. Disappointment #1 At this office, after you check in, you're given your patient chart to carry into the examination room once it's your turn. So of course I spent my wait time, reading my chart information. (Do you blame me? Besides it's my information, LOL.) Well, turns out that I miscalculated my start weight from my LapBand surgery, in fact I thought I'd lost more weight than I have from that point. Not including the weight I lost previously, that means I only lost 32# in the 10 1/2 months since my 2005 surgery. And granted, I'm packing some recent post-op swelling & Fluid retention weight since my recent December Tummy Tuck/Abdominoplasty but this was a crushing blow. :cry OMG, I knew I was a slow loser but come on.... that's ridiculous! Disappointment #2 Once I was called in the exam area, the nurse located my port, stuck the mini needle in and I proceeded to the X-Ray/Flouroscopy area. There my surgeon and the radiologist watched carefully as I drank the barium swallow. Well, I drank and we all watched the screen. As the fluid progressed my surgeon began shaking his head. He asked me if I felt any restriction. I told him yes, but it was no where near the level of restriction I had a few months ago. He shook his head again and told me that I was as full as he wanted my band to be full. I must've looked at him blankly because he reiterated that he was not going to fill my band. He explained that I was at 2.7- nearly 2.8 and he thought that any more than that could possibly be dangerous. Then I finally realized what he was saying and I was asking "but what am I supposed to do?" He said it probably all up to me now because he didn't think the band should be filled any more. Gee, and everyone's always telling me that I am one of his all-time favourite patients but apparently not - because he thinks I'm at the end of the road. I was in total shock. He asked how much weight I'd lost so far (it's been a long Weight Loss road but trust me I'll spare everyone the dreary details of my journey) and I was so rattled I told him the wrong weight. So it seemed like I'd lost more than I actually had (by then, he'd already handed the chart back so he didn't have it in his hand) to which he responded that I'd lost what is projected with the band, half of my excess weight. (Actually I haven't lost as much as I need to, but I set VERY realistic goals based on his original clear, honest projections of what the band could do and not do.) He kept telling me that I looked good and that I've come a long way with the band. It was so bad, I think he actually uttered the phrase "We're through. We're done here." So I'm trying to keep my head and see the humour in this but the ugly reality remains: My surgeon thinks I'm at the "End of my Band Road." Not only am I nowhere near my goal, but I still can't even get my BMI under 30. I think as of today, my BMI is like 30.1 or 30.2 and I hardly call that the end of the road. So with less restriction than I've had and with fighting the urge to eat more, I'm stuck. Before leaving, I even asked him outright that if I get the cash money or financing to pay outright - if he'd consider revising me to a Gastric Bypass. (It was always my understanding from him that if the Band didn't work out that we could always consider the RnY if things just didn't work out.) He actually said no, and that he thinks I look great. Um, yeah thanks but HEY.... I'm still a work in progress - I am absolutely convinced that I can do better. But I need the help of the band for restriction. I'm no sloth but I realise that I have a weight problem and to work on it I need the help of my tool. I just don't know what to do... right now I'm still in shock but I think my surgeon just told me he doesn't want to be my surgeon anymore even if I get the $22K cash (which I don't have, mind you) to pay for a bypass. So, I'm in a pickle. I really do like my surgeon (I thought he liked me too but I'll find out if I've been 'dumped' as a patient or if he just doesn't think I need a fill. I assume it's the latter, but a girl can't be too sure of anything these days.) I don't have as much restriction as I should and I'm actually pretty band-compliant. No I don't want to be PB-ing or Vomiting with every meal but I do need a bit more restriction to allow me to keep my calories restricted enough to lose the extra weight I need. I don't know... I didn't think I was just a fiasco as a patient. I do refer to myself as a Remedial Bandster due to my slow loss but I guess I didn't realize that he has no faith that I have any potential as a patient. Here's the irony, when I was in the waiting room, the other patients also told me how good I looked. Later, one of them said "Oh my god, you look great. I can't even believe you're not at goal. I bet the doctor is going to ask you to be in his brochure or whatever. You're like an advertisement." (In reality, I don't think I'm an ad for anything. With that 30 BMI even when he's asked if I will speak I won't even speak up when I attend my doc's seminars with my friends - I just think that would be ridiculous at my weight. Standing up at a seminar? Like I think I'm successful or something? Not even close. ) No, apparently not. Not even close to being in his brochure - I'm not sure if he wants to see me again. I don't know what my next step is... and I appreciate you guys listening to me. This journey is going to be even harder than I thought - and that's saying something! Any good wishes, expressions of sympathy or kind thoughts are appreciated. Happy band journeys to all, "New" (and apparently not going to get to be Brand New) Sho

I didn’t experience a lot at the beginning with the bypass. I was expecting them at around 3 months with this revision. I just did measurements today because I feel so discouraged. 😭 I know we shouldn’t go by the scale but I am just 3 weeks out and it hasn’t moved since week 2 😩

Elizabeth - I am so sorry to hear your slip is a bigger deal than you initially thought. Is it beyond possibility that it would repair itself with your unfill? I know some can correct themselves that way. If not, you want to be especially mindful of how you are feeling - a slippage that doesn't fix itself can quickly turn into obstruction, particularly if you have a vomiting episode, or an irritation that results in swelling. Please go carefully. As far as possibly having the band removed, I don't think your re-slippage chances increase if you just have it fixed - and knowing what you do now, you can probably avoid the behaviours that helped it slip the first time. However, I do think that repair of slippage falls into Inamed's "revision" category, so your chance of erosion may be increased. If it were me, I probably would just have the slip repaired and keep my band, since it's in there already. If for whatever reason they are not able to repair it right then, but have to remove it to let the stomach recover before they reband you I'd have to think harder about that. If I could afford it, I probably would get rebanded, even with the possible increased risk of erosion. But these are all things you have to think about, and I wish you the best of luck in your decision.

The regain stats on RNY are much higher than what they are reporting with the sleeve especially since the malabsorption of calories/fat/sugars only lasts max 2 years, and then it's all about the restriction of the stretchy pouch that RNY offers to keep your portions small. It's called "intestinal adaptation after intestinal resection". The body adjusts, and the villi of the intestine grow back, but that part of the intestines that absorb specific Vitamins and nutrients do not ever grow back because that entire portion of the intestines have been bypassed and are just hanging out in the body. I would recommend checking out the revision, food issues, failure after wls on obesityhelp.com so you can get as much information as you can. You can see the day in and day out issues of RNY especially with people that are several years out. This is my standard reply when the question pops up for RNY vs. VSG: Here's a diagram, and information on adaptation: http://pamtremble.bl...s-absorbed.html

4 months post op. “VBG” in 2007 an went bad so they did revision. 280lbs an down to 188lbs in 4 months. Good luck it’s worth it!

Hi Giselle; At my clinic TLBC it costs $16,000 incl Gst. for the Lapband and any proceedures for life. At SWLC in Mississauga its $17,000 plus Gst. don't know how long you are covered for subsequent fills and revisions(if necessary) DrWatkins Gastric Band Surgeon Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 98 We adjust all bands (including the new Ethicon REALIZE band) at our Chicago clinic in Oak Brook, IL. You can get their contact info from our website, Synchrony Health :: Home. The surgeon, Dr. Duane Tull, is banded himself. He'd be happy to see you. Hope that helps brad __________________ Gastric Band Surgeon since 2002 Synchrony Health :: Home I've 'pasted' the link to the Chicago Ill. site, sorry I tried to google the Detroit one but wasn't lucky. In Ypsilanti Michigan there is the BARIX Clinic, they do lapbands on Canadians plus my BF had her Gastric Bypass done there and the team was fantastic.... excellent aftercare too. Dr. Kam was the surgeon that she had.

@phatkat..sorry to hear about your struggles and fears! I just logged back in due to needing to take a break..many of the posts were confusing me.. And making me feel worse.. Not much has changed on my end since last August.. I've lost a few more lbs but still can't ingest solid healthy proteins besides some flaky fish.. Even eggs are a no go.. However I'm looking into sleeve revision surgery and have to do some research..have you looked I to some options like that for yourself? I know it's expensive but I was curious.

I just had my revision on the 10th and it too is the best decision I have made. For you, I guess it matters why you had so many issues with the band: did you eat too much, too many wrong foods, grazing all day. Many factors can contribute to the failure of the band. If you did everything you were supposed to 100% I say go for it. Remember that the sleeve is also just a tool and it is a really big life changing committment to make it work. Good luck in your decision.

if you follow this link it has a good comparison of the different WLS: http://www.lapsf.com/weight-loss-surgeries.html I'm revision a week from today!

I was revised on 1/28/2013. It has been the best decision ever! The band just was not for me. I was banned on 4/18/2011 and never lost more than 15 lbs. My insurance changed through work and I ended up with KAISER...I was not to happy about that but I had no other choice. My primary doctor and I discussed the possibility of a revision on my diabetic appt, that was like Tuesday and I received a call from the bariatric deptartment the next day! The bariatric nurse I spoke with said that it would not be a problem. She put in for a referral for my Dr. to approve...and waalaa in 48 hours I received an approval letter! I had my surgical consult a couple weeks later on 1/9/2013 and was in surgery on the 28th. Was amazingly quick. My surgeon Robert E Zan in Harbor City Ca. is amazing as well as all his staff.

I've had the Sleeve and had to revise to the Bypass. Over the years I ended up with extreme GERD from the VSG and had to revise. Of the two I'd say they both work great. If I HAD to pick which one I like the best I pick the Bypass. I don't have as much esophageal pain now and I'm feeling good/normal. I recognize when I am full and I stop eating immediately. Haven't had any post op problems at all except the incision pain was annoying, but it went away. Good luck to you!

Someone in my support group did that and it's working very well for her. I would look for a surgeon that is experienced in revisions because doing a second WLS surgery on top of a new one is trickier than doing a virgin WLS surgery.

People typically go for a sleeve to bypass revision because there was something wrong with the sleeve (strictures, excess fundus left behind, etc.) that the surgeon didn't know how to correct or was incompatible with their physiology, often causing significant reflux problems that couldn't be corrected with diet or medication. Doing such a revision simply for inadequate weight loss or regain reasons is less successful as the two procedures are very similar in their strength, or power, against weight problems. Regain characteristics are similar for both procedures, though some patient may be more compatible with one or the other (think of it as a personality fit or conflict.) Look carefully at what the reasons for your regain were and address them first, or else you are likely to have the same problem in another few years. The more one gets into doing revisions, the more one paints oneself into a corner, leaving fewer options in the future. Also, the bypass is something of a dead end procedure, as it is very difficult to revise it to something else if it isn't compatible with you - they can do bands over the bypass or various means of tightening the stoma but none have a very high success rate. The best way to correct a poorly performing bypass is to revise it to a DS (duodenal switch) which offers much better regain resistance than either the sleeve or the bypass, but is a very compex revision from a bypass (there's maybe a half dozen surgeons around the country qualified for such a procedure.) Fortunately, the DS is a very straightforward revision from a sleeve as it uses the sleeve as its basis, so that would be something to seriously consider if you need to revise a sleeve for weightloss or regain purposes. This doc has several youtube videos out there that are worth watching and maybe get some ideas of what can be done in your situation. His overall diet/lifestyle approach is fairly vegetable intensive approach which has a lot of merit but may or may not be something that you can do. Good luck in working through this problem.....

I suggest you do a little homework first. Call your insurance company and ask what are the requirements for WLS. Back in 2009 (lapband) the insurance i had the requirements were..... 35 bmi with 2 co morbids OR over 40 bmi with no co's. I quilified for the 40 bmi. I am also 5'2".... (this is one time where being short pays off). I was 232lbs so my bmi was around 42 i think. WLS was a life saver for me in so many ways. Because i had the LB my weight loss was so, but i stuck with it and followed the rules. Got to 143lbs and stayed there for nearly 8 years. Then in March of 2017, after years of zero problems, i got sick and for a week i threw up violently, slipped my band and had to have her removed. Over the next 2.5+ years (and starting menopause) i put back 30lbs of the 89 i lost. Which was still great.... but i hated how i felt. I also hated that no matter what i did.... diet, diet pills, not eating, tracking food, crossfit,.... nothing stopped it. After about a year without her i realized i wouldn't be able to keep all the weigh off with out some intervention. So i started looking for a Dr. to do a revision. My plan was to get the MGB, but no one would do it..... all i kept hearing was... You don't weigh enough.... ughhhh. I started plans to go down to Mex and have it done there.... then on a last ditch effort i called a local Dr. and had a meeting with him. He agreed that had i NOT been a previous WLS patient he would never do anything.... BUT because i was he could get me in as a "revision". So on Aug. 28, 2019 i went in for the Sleeve. No, it's not what i wanted, but i grabbed the chance and ran with it... that and 14K. Mex was about 9-10k i think. Yes i would have saved a few thousand, but it was worth the extra to have my dr. 10 min from me and not in Mex. Today, i happy at my current weight of 131lbs. The day i was sleeved i was 173.5lbs. Worth every cent of that 14k.