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I revised from band to sleeve 3.5 years ago. I have lost about half my body weight - and maintaining. You have posted this mesage multiple places - what specifically do you want to know?

Don't waste your time with the lap band. My surgeon doesn't even do then anymore. Read the band to sleeve forum for many more opinions on the band. I had a band for several years...now having to do a revision to sleeve.

I am 45 year old male 5'10 /260 pounds with a failed band. Very apprehensive about revision surgery. I have cancelled my date twice and was ready to go June 7 but my doctor has to cancel and reschedule for June 23. Beginning to second guess this decision. I know several people that have had great success. Any advice is welcome!

I am 45 year old male 5'10 /260 pounds with a failed band. Very apprehensive about revision surgery. I have cancelled my date twice and was ready to go June 7 but my doctor has to cancel and reschedule for June 23. Beginning to second guess this decision. I know several people that have had great success. Any advice is welcome!

I am 45 year old male 5'10 /260 pounds with a failed band. Very apprehensive about revision surgery. I have cancelled my date twice and was ready to go June 7 but my doctor has to cancel and reschedule for June 23. Beginning to second guess this decision. I know several people that have had great success. Any advice is welcome!

I hate the idea of any more surgery but saw the bariatric surgeon for my regular visit on Friday and showed her the 'golf ball'. She said it wasn't dangerous but I really needed to get it fixed. So...a lower profile port is what I will get along with her stitching it to the muscle so it gets buried deeper. She said it would hurt more to get fills but I don't get any now so I don't care about what might or might not happen. I tried on a dress last week that I couldn't buy because my port was so visible. Will be nice to not have to deal with that anymore. Then she mentioned that she didn't do this too often because most bandsters didn't become as thin as I have. She said there's no fat for the port to be hidden by. I must say, I liked how that sounded.

Weight loss is always slower for revisions (except for some of the band to sleeve patients) because your body is already used to calorie restrictions and high protein. You don't get the initial shock to your body you do with your first procedure. I'm on my 3rd, it's very slow !! 24lbs In almost 8 weeks. Of coarse how much you have to lose also makes a difference. Typically revisions have less than virgin patients but not always.

I'm not looking to revise, but responding because we were sleeved around the same time. I also have very little restriction these days, though I still do have it. Some days it's better than others. I think that's normal, for the most part. I think by three years out it's pretty common to be able to eat pretty normal (not "normal" overeating, like most of used to do). Anyway, I sometimes wish I could get a "touch up" or something, because even though I am maintaining at what is a good weight for me, I'd like to lose 5-10 pounds more. Also, now my weight management is about 70% me and 30% sleeve. I could easily eat my way right back to 300 pounds if I let myself. I asked my surgeon about a re-do or if I was possibly stretched, and he said that it's common to be able to eat as much as I can now, and that sometime people develop areas of stretching or ballooning in the stomach, but there is no evidence to prove that having that causes weight gain, or that removing it causes weight loss. In other words, it's up to us. For me, the surgery isn't worth the risk. Have you reviewed your diet? How much are you eating? Are you weighing, measuring, and tracking your food? Are you increasing your activity? Are you taking anything for the reflux? (I also get it sometimes, but only if I eat too much, just like pre-op). Only you and your doc can decide if you need a second surgery, but my point is you still do have a sleeve, and probably it can still help you. Mine still helps me, but I have to do the work.

I'm headed in to the hospital to have my band to bypass revision. I'm very excited! Ready for the new me!

I apologize RICKYT? 4years ago True Results the staff was what was wrong. The nurses who have me fill an unfill were always pokin at me blind tryin to act like they knew my situation. I was always too restricted or toooo loose.. After the first year I couldn't afford all the fills and Unfills and trips back n forth. Honestly the band just wasn't for me. I do know one lady on my FB group whom had a tremendous amount of wt loss w the lapband but out of 64 of us about 5 ppl already had a revision or in the process. I have no self control when it comes to food unless I'm on some form of pill or shot helping my cravings go away. I BELEIVE the sleeve will be better for me. I'm type 2 diabetic so I get all Godzilla when I'm hungry or start getting irritable plus my hormones... Stick to the instructions and wt your food a week in advance no bs. Either you "fail to plan or you plan to fail" Be ahead start measuring and freeze, strength train 7days just so u get in the mental habit. Make this work for you. BEAST MODE BRO ur not like me u can do this regardless who u went through for the lap band. Got any pics ?

I am the spouse and DH has just started the process and we are hoping for a late September, early October date. He has to do 3 month supervised and crossing fingers that Aetna will pay for his band to sleeve revision. On our first appointment. And yes, I say our since I want to be his biggest supporter, we got a pretty extensive binder with all the information pre and post surgery. Did your surgeon not provide that to you? I am slowly reading through it. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I add a spoon of sugar free pudding to my shakes My fav is banana cream. This makes a big difference in taste especially if you are using non flavored protein. Sugar free jello is a good add. I am 5 days out of a total revision. This time around has been so much better!

I am 5 days out of revision surgery and I am swallowing all of my pills. I am taking liquid oxycodene because it absorbs faster.

I regret having been banded. I hated it. I lived with it for 5.5 years and last month finally revised to bypass. It hurt to eat anything but I was hungry all the time and never got full. I lost weight only when I literally couldn't tolerate food. One poster mentioned that those who regret it likely aren't on here...and it's true. I didn't get back on until I became committed to revision. At the same time, I was convinced that the band would cure me because hunger has always been my issue and they promised a low appetite, but they were wrong (at least for me....and all the other revisions that are currently being done). So can I really regret it if I also would have regretted it if I hadn't gotten it? I can't say whether I'll regret the bypass, but I hope I don't. So far things have been easier than the band, and I have tolerated everything I've attempted to eat so far. There is really no way to know until you do it, which is really difficult to know.

Raises hand - I am a sleeve to bypass revision. Going through the whole process again. I have gerd and my sleeve is twisted... I never had Gerd until post sleeve. Wishing you the best.

I am not sure what surgery part two even is? Are you saying your sleeve has failed and need a revision or are you talking about plastics or what?

I ended up with RNY for the very same reasons as listed above. RNY will cure it while the sleeve and lap and can make it much worse requiring a revision to bypass anyway. Good luck!

Thanks for the information but its a little too late for me. I used weightlossagents but as a nurse and having bariatric surgery before, I didn't ask any questions. I had revision surgery (lapband to sleeve) April 7, 2015 and had a great experience. ☺️

I had my sleeve done on 6/11/2015. I feel pretty good. Mine was a revision from the band and the spot that hurts the most is where my port was taken out. I am able to drink slowly. I am excited to be on the losers bench. I lost 25 pounds during my one month pre op diet so I am ready to keep going!!

Veronda, I'm very happy that things are going well for you! I'm more confident now that having the revision is the right choice, my weight has always been an issue and continues to. I'm getting more excited about having the gastric bypass. I meet with my doctor again next week. My insurance only requires a few things to be approved. I hope you will keep me posted on your journey.

A year ago I started this process in the exact same frame of mind. I was going to get a sleeve. Period, end of question. I actually have myself on video stating that exact same thing, quite vehemently too, as I had started a video diary for myself early on to track my progress. I was perhaps halfway through my insurance's mandated pre op classes before I began to wonder if perhaps bypass might be a better choice in my case. I have the occasional reflux too. I also have a wicked sweet tooth, so dumping might not be a bad incentive to have to stay on track. I'm also older (54), and really don't want to think of the possibility of having to revise to bypass if the sleeve didn't work for me. Not to mention the fact that my insurance has made it very clear that they will only pay for one wls per lifetime. I currently take a huge regimen of Vitamins anyway, so I'm willing to take on both the positive and negative outlets of malabsorption. In all I've come to believe that restriction just might not be enough for me. Hence, the switch. So here I am, a year later, having completed every single requirement my insurance put in front of me, including losing 10% of my excess weight. I even have undeniable written proof of my insurance's approval in my hands and... I'm still waiting. I carry my phone with me everywhere, waiting for *that* call - the surgical consult. The last step before actual surgery. But because of the high demand and back log, I might not get there for another couple of months. I've resigned myself to the fact. But I know one thing, my resolve that this is the right step for me has never once wavered, and it never will. There's nothing anyone can say that will make the waiting any easier. It's hell sometimes, I won't lie. But I'll get there and so will you. You've done everything right. Extensive research is the key. You have to know what's right for you, which might be something entirely different than someone else. WLS is definitely not a one size fits all kind of thing, and it's not something to enter into without knowing exactly what you're getting into. You sound like you are well on your way to being monumentally successful. Keep on that path, and you'll suddenly look back one day and realize that it all passed by a lot faster than you thought it did. That's what keeps me going. Good luck on your journey!

@@Dub I am so very very excited for you! You have clearly done a lot of thinking and researching WLS. You are well on your way to a much healthier life already. I am glad to hear you have kept an open mind about which procedure to pursue. There really is a lot to understand. I too had my heart set on the sleeve mostly because of all the hype. When I went to my first appointment with the Bariatric doctor and Bariatric nurse, they went over my full history. As we began to discuss the different options the fact that I suffered from Reflux and Gerd came up. At that time they recommended that I consider bypass instead of the sleeve. I was devastated but decided I would do some research and get a second opinion. The more I researched the more I learned that the sleeve and band can both make reflux worse and in some cases give someone who has never had it, can cause it to happen. In my case I was already on the maxi u dose of reflux medication so if I had a problem with it post sleeve there would be nothing they could do to resolve it besides revise to a bypass. After I saw my gastroenterologist he definfinately recommended bypass and even told me that the bypass would likely cure this disease for good. Well, after that meeting it was a no brainier for me. I had my bypass on 9/29/2014. I have been off all reflux medications at the 30 day post op mark. I have never ever had a single episode of heartburn, reflux or Gerd. I am down 105lbs and would like to lose another 40 although I look terrific already. I no longer have diabetes, stage 3 kidney disease, knee pain or ankle/foot pain. My sleep apnea has been resolved. I do still have serious spine issues that have gotten worse but that was because I waited too long to do something about my weight. I have normal to sometimes lower blood pressure and my cholesterol both good and bad are now all normal. I feel so lucky that I have a second chance at life! Your story is so inspiring and I really wish you the absolute best of luck as you go through this process. In terms of changing some things now, you are asking at a perfect time. I would suggest going after one thing at a time but for starters stop with the soda. You will never be able to have it again post surgery so ween yourself completely off now so it is not such a shock to your body. Then start with coffee. Practice eating your meals very slowly. Never eat for more than 30 minutes but try to take that whole time to eat your much more normal portions. Also if up you can, practice eating without drinking 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after. This was the hardest for me to practice before surgery but I have had no problem sticking to it post surgery. Also if you eat in front of the TV, try really hard to eat without distractions. It helps you pay attention to what your body is telling you. Good luck and please keep us posted on your progress! I am looking forward to your success! You deserve it and are working hard to get after it.

When first making the decision to open up to the tool of bariatric surgery I simply assumed that the sleeve would be the procedure that I preferred. This was due to having the full run of my plumbing and perceived ability to eat the foods I wanted, but restrict the amounts. Seemed simple. My younger sister had bypass 15 years ago and I just didn't think that "aggressive" a procedure would be needed for me. After all.....I've lost large amounts of weight in the past through diet and exercise....I just needed a little help......or so I was believing. My physician who was discussing this with me eased me into the conversation and led me to find my way to the surgeon I've selected. I've been to his group presentation.....the first required step. Even after listening to my sister and seeing her progress.......for 15 years......and for secretly thinking in some small way that she took the easy way out.........I didn't "get" it. That presentation really altered my thinking about restrictive and absorptive restriction. I realized in that group session my "hero" status as the big brother doing it on his own......over and over again......was a stupid cycle. I needed to get all the help available.....every tool in the toolbox to get the lifelong results I strived for. Dr Carlson addressed the full room and fielded every question asked. An hour went by....then more.......he'd long since made his informative presentation.....yet stayed to discuss our concerns. A lot of "ah-ha" moments were had. I heard the lady seated behind me speak to her friend, "The sleeve is what will work best for me". My wife, seated beside me, was quiet. She reserved her comments until much later when we were driving home. She proceeded carefully fearing that she knew my mind had already been made up on the sleeve. It was a relief to her when I acknowledged that I felt I needed the bypass.......like my brave little sister did so many years ago.....doing her own research.....as a young woman on her own.......when most folks hadn't heard of such. One of my issues is reoccurring reflux. Some nights it can be really bad. It subsided greatly once I completely cut out alcohol from my intake on April 2, 2015. Back in early April of this year I'd begun resuming the fight to loose my weight. I'd taken evaluation of my current state of living. I loved to grill out.........really loved it. It is therapeutic. I loved to crack open a cold beer and fire up the coals. More beer throughout the cooking and serving everyone had me relaxed and happy. After dinner, I'd normally get drowsy due to several beers......then it'd be time to hit a couple tequila shooters and another beer......or a rum & diet coke or two. I'd get my relaxed and happy state back. It was clear which non-essential calories to drop first......cut out the beer and liquor along with seriously revising the menu on my plate. Guess what.....these were the nights the reflux was bad. Drinking + spicy food (the only kind off my grill ) = reflux. I discussed this "revelation" with my wife. She pointed out a few times since when I'd complained of reflux....since I'd cut out alcohol. I realized she was right......it was still occurring but less often. I have decided that I'd prefer the bypass.......but don't even know yet if I'm approved for it. The waiting and suspense of insurance is driving me nuts. Don't get me wrong.....I'm glad the procedure isn't something as easy to get as a bad tattoo.......but I wish it was more straightforward from the insurance company standpoint. Down the road the results I get from the bariatric will certainly lessen the costs I'd otherwise pose to them, right ? Sorry for the rambling. I'm just eagerly impatient and ready to get this ball rolling in the direction that will lead to successful and long lasting health provided I continue to do my part. I'm checking stuff off the mandatory list at least.....and this website and the folks here are already helping me find answers to the tons of questions I have. My mandatory checklist: Attend the group session---done in early June. Meet with the bariatric program's & surgeon's nurse to review my case and 8 pages of medical Q&A i was to complete--done this past week. Meet with surgeon on official visit----scheduled for July 1. Meet with program's nutritional guru----first of the 6 visits is on July 7. This I understand will be the "start" date of the mandatory 6 month timeline to surgery. Meet with psyche guru----awaiting appointment scheduling now. Internal scope evaluation of stomach and other plumbing-------to be scheduled after visit with surgeon I still don't have any type of official indication that bypass is a covered procedure (United Healthcare). I don't know if I can hang on 6+ months before getting this latest umbilical hernia taken care of. I want to get on to eating the foods I'll be living by after the surgery......eat like I've had the surgery......begin accelerated weight loss now......not wait until the surgery. I just want to be sure that I can't lose "too much" on my own that the insurance balks and says, "No way buddy.....you got this.....do it yourself". I can do a lot off by myself.....but I fail to keep it off. I don't want to sabotage my chances for coverage. So many questions that I'm sure will be resolved and clear in the weeks ahead......it's just right now I want to get going with progress of some type......no matter if it's from bypass or from my jumping onboard with the new plan. The compelling reasons for the need to get going are probably no different than most other folks here: I'm having back spasms from reoccurring back injuries due to herniated T-12 vertebrae. Spine surgeon stated that bariatric surgeon can do more for my spine than he could with back surgery. Sounds legit. Umbilical hernia is driving me nuts. It's worsened when back goes out and my posture and such gets weird. Knees are shot....ortho doc says I need knee replacements sooner than later....he's saying 5 years tops.....plus hip, too. He also stated that 200 lbs off my frame would push those replacements back a long time. I already feel some benefit in my knees from the initial pounds coming off. Swelling in my ankles is greatly reduced. Sorry again for the rambling. I'm jittery after finishing up the last day of miracle steroids (4th round with them since April) on my back. The side effects are sleeplessness for me. I get jittery after the 6 day cycles. I'm hoping for a good long sleep later today....tonight. Aside from dropping the alcohol, fried food and reducing sugar & starch intake (doing these).........what can you advise me to do? What other dietary-related actions? Breakfast choices now are oatmeal (made with Water and small amount of salt) vs sausage biscuits and such. lunch & dinner has me eating lots of salads. Snacks are nuts, fruits like blueberries and apples and occasional whole grain toast with small amount of health choice butter substitute or Greek Yogurt. Drinking tons of water. 40oz of coffee every day during the first portion of the day......a lot, I know. I use nonfat creamer and Splenda or Equal (10 packs for 40oz coffee). I'm still having 2-3 20oz Diet Mt. Dew's every day. Sounds like a ton....but it's way down over the number I used to drink. I go to one a day on days off....but do poorly during workdays. No more drive thru's and only salads from fast food restaurants. What else should I be doing? Should I order the "Big Book on Bypass" and get started on it ??????? Stir crazy and tired of my 46 years of fat fighting. 5 years ago I burned off 120 and felt like a new man.......still have many of the 2X & 3X clothes. I saved most of them.....refusing to toss them due to that being symbolic of me throwing away my hope of wearing them again. I lost that weight.....but failed to keep it off. The brief period at that reduced weight was enough of a taste of healthier living that I have craved ever since. Virtually painfree and full of energy. Leaner.......able to wear my old high school letterman's jacket and button it up......too small still, but at least it would button up. Another 100 pounds off that and I feel like i'd be walking around feeling like a Gazillion dollar lottery winner. I may never get a winning lottery ticket.....but I'll be supremely happy to get 200 lbs off........and MAINTAIN that level. So ready to get this machine krunk up and in gear and burn some rubber down the track. This waiting is like sitting there with the engine revving up but the parking brake locked in place...........

My revision was Jan 2015. Band placed in 2006 never worked for me, just caused me pain pain. Had a slip right away and had it replaced. Lost 50 pounds but in pain all the time. I am so happy to have that "thing" out of me. Even with no fill, it felt like I had a knot in my stomach all the time. The sleeve is just plain easier. *FOR ME....My doc said longer term there are much fewer complications with the sleeve because of no foreign object that can slip, fail, whatever. Best to you!

I had my revision on May 19 (after the band in 2009), so I'm not far out but I am happy I made the change. I had trouble and pain in eating ANYTHING HEALTHY with the band. I started back on solids last week and I haven't had any intolerances yet. Even better, I actually feel full, which I never once got with the band. I can eat more than I'd have thought/hoped, but I'm feeling good about it. I'm down 28 pounds, and I can't be upset about that. I have a group of five bandster girls that get together; one made it to goal (and beyond), two of us have failed, and two are kind of in between, still fighting it. I was sure the band was the cure for me because my issue is hunger and they promised satiety. That didn't happen. I'm still a newbie, but this was the right direction for me.