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Than you for posting that. I am planning a revision and was turning more to rny then started questioning my thoughts.

I've heard that bandsters who have severe reflux shouldn't get the sleeve and are usually steered toward gastric bypass since it's a non restrictive surgery like the band and sleeve. I have to have my band removed after 2 years. I don't have reflux just a bunch of other issues and am considering a revision. Best of luck!

Hi Carol. I met with Dr. McCloskey a couple of weeks ago to begin my journey from lap band to gastric sleeve revision. She did not place the band. Another surgeon did whose practice I left and followed up with Dr. Urbandt who is now either retired or moved. I would be curious to know how many of those early posters who had the band are now getting them out. Mine was done in 2008. I would also like to hear of anyone else who had her for their surgical revision.

Hi guys, here. Am band to sleeve revision on jan 9th. Have not been loosing a lot, but in all honesty, I only have 50 to loose. 20 lbs from pre surgery to today but still with anything I have not felt a lot of restriction. I've been confused and actually wondering if the surgery was done leaving me with 15%of my stomach. I'm wondering if they left me more since I didn't have a lot to loose. I am discouraged to say the least and I see my surgeon tomorrow. I am going to ask in a nice way but really, I want to know. My leak swallow test showed a round stomach like the size of a baseball...there was no banana shaped anything. I hope to get answers tomorrow because if I went through all this and it's not what I wanted that would suck

A week out from being un-filled and I'm still not much better. I see my doctor next week to discuss revision surgery. The kicker is I have to have the insurance for 24 consecutive months before they will do the surgery. I've only had it for 13 months. I have to do 6 moths of supervised dieting (but I can't lose anymore weight or my BMI will be too low), which I get to start in July of this year so I'll have it all done by January of 2016 when I can finally have my surgery. The other twist is I only get one bariatric surgery per life time, and they consider removing the band as a bariatric surgery, so they might not cover the revision. I might have a better chance of them covering it if I can get it all done in one surgery, but we won't know if that can happen until she gets in there. This is good news (that I have a light at the end of the tunnel) but bad news that I have to wait 10 months and be in debilitating pain and I might not even get to have revision surgery. I told the lady in the office that I'd rather go through 10 months of Hell if it means I will have a lifetime of being pain free. She told me I was a strong and determined young lady. That made me smile.

I just had my band to sleeve revision on February 11 and love it! Unfortunately I had to self pay for this procedure; my wonderful doctor said he would try his hardest to complete the revision with 1 surgery. During my consult, he did inform me that if there was too much scar tissue then he would have to close me up and wait a few months for the tissue to soften. I was fine with whatever he decided because he had my health and safety as a priority. Once he got in there he did have to spend and extra 30 minutes working on the scar tissue and said it was pretty bad. Thankfully he took the time to do what was needed for a single surgery. I never had a slip but my band was so tight at one point I couldn't even get my Protein shake down. I'm sooooooooooooooooooo glad I had the revision.

Hi, I'd love to see what we have in common surgery-wise as well as apart from surgery. (I'm being sleeved in March 2015, a revision surgery from the band that was placed in March 2011.) When I'm sufficiently recovered, I would welcome the opportunity to meet up in the borough. Let's go for a walk, a light-bite, or a cup of coffee and discuss our surgeries and more!

I think the "newbie" label is related to how long you've been on the forums and how many posts you've made, not how far along you are in the WLS process. Not sure there's anything you can do to change it, but maybe one of the moderators can chime in. Good luck with your revision! I hope the sleeve works out better for you.

Hi, First of all, where do I go to change myself from still being identified as a "Newbie?" Thank you. Secondly, I'm having revision surgery from the lap band (placed in March 10, 2011) to the vertical gastric sleeve (March 16, 2015.) I started to have band complications three years out from that surgery. I re-gained a significant amount of weight, which I now hope to re-lose. Plus, there is even more weight to be lost past those gains. The sleeve will be my new weight loss tool. I'm excited for the surgery but also well aware that revision surgery comes with more complications than a single surgical procedure. That said, I'm optimistic for a safe surgery and for a positive outcome all around. I will keep you all posted....????

I have Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield through my husband's job here in MO and they cover "medically necessary" revisions with a BMI over 40 or over 35 with co-morbidties. I was able to find out exactly what I needed to be approved to go from lap band to gastric bypass just from Googling "revision requirements Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield". Or you can give them a call.

I didn't have the Band but did have a stomach stapling back in the 80's. The staple line did not hold up.....so I had lots of stomach problems over the years and lots of scar tissue. I had my surgery in June and have done great. Just make sure you do your research and use a doctor that has done revisions. I went to a doctor several years back and the first thing he said to me was "I hate revisions...and can't stand to do them".....I knew he was not for me.

Hello all! I had the lapband 5 yeas ago, it slipped due to being to tight, had surgery to correct it then about 6 months ago I had it removed... I am starting my journey to get gastric bypass. I am a little worried about scar tissue and issues with bypass because of if... Has anyone revised and been okay ? Any issues due to scar tissue ? This is all if my insurance approves for revision.

HEY PRINCESSDEB I FEEL YOUR PAIN. MY SURGERY 12/24/14, MY WEIGHT LOST 38 LBS AND I KEEP GAINING & THEN LOSING. GO FIGURE. MY DOCTORS ARE ALSO VERY PLEASED WITH MY PROGRESS. I WAS REVISED FROM LAPBAND TO GASTRIC BYPASS. THEY TOLD ME I WOULD PROBABLY LOOSE A LITTLE SLOWER, BUT LIKE READY2B SAID WHEN HAVE WE EVER LOST THIS MOST WEIGHT IN THIS LITTLE TIME. OOH READY2B (LOVE THE NAME BY THE WAY) I'VE GOT TO MAKE YOU A FRIEND. GIRL YOU ARE A GURU. YOU HAVE THE KNACK. I HAD TO BOOKMARK THIS PAGE SO I COULD REFER TO YOUR COMMENTS WHEN I'M HAVING A COMPARISON MOMENT - WHICH I KNOW BETTER THAN BUT STILL SOMETIMES DO. I MUST REMEMBER: "WORK THE PROGRAM AND IT WILL WORK FOR YOU". NOW LET ME GO WORKOUT. HERE'S TO HEALTH LADIES BE BLESSED

No...West LA surgeons are more prone to just take out band, but not revision. Request Harbor City. I went to West LA earlier in the year. Email your doctor, ask him to send referral to Dr. Gary Belzberg.

Wow! My PCP put in the referral today and I have a connection in Health Ed to get an idea if I'll have to go through the classes. It depends on what my PCP entered for the referral and how they feel about why I'm making the decision for the revision. I'll take whatever path they lay out. I want it done so that I can have a do-over and finally have some success. One more question... Did you have you have your procedure at West LA (Cadillac)?

I had a revision from band to bypass and it has been great! No more stuck feeling and vomiting. Absolutely, no reflux after surgery! It's a great feeling and I healed much faster after bypass than the band for some reason. Although, I didn't have a lot of energy for awhile. I am so excited for you and I pray you will get the approval. If you do not get approved have your doctor so a Pier to Pier (I think that's what it is called). The doctor will schedule to talk to insurance for you & plead your case. (:

Hey all. My name is Kiki. Im fairly new to this forum and have been mostly reading posts and gathering much needed information. I want to learn as much as i can about people who have had revison surgery, especially those with band to bypass. In 2007, i was in a terrible car accident and was bleeding internally. My spleen was hemorrhaging blood into my liver. They had to put a stint to stop the bleeding and it worked. In 2012, i made a decision to have WLS. After my first consultation with my Dr, i told him i was interested in gastric bypass and he thought that was the best choice for my weight at the time. I told him all my history and about the accident and he said he'd have to look into it before moving forward. At my next appointment he told me that i would not be able to have gastric bypass because of the stint from my spleen to liver dor fear of blood circulation being cut off to aplee spleen and and the organ in turn dying and causing complications or death. Of course this was so disappointing but he did say that lapband sugery would be safe because it would not cut off any blood supply to vital organs. I went ahead with lapband hoping to make the best of it. Looking back today, it was the worst decision i ever made (next to ex husband lol). I had constant issues with it. I've gone back and forth with weight. Been so sick with reflux and vomiting after every meal. Ive had countless fills and unfills. Its been such a disheartening journey. Although i did loose weight with the band, it was not easy and extremely painful. In 2013, my Dr told me they had been doing research about my situation and came to the conclusion that i would never be able to have gastric sleeve but it would be possible to have bypass surgery because blood vessels would not be restricted in that surgery. I didn't know whether to be happy or upset that we didnt do that surgery in the first place. He said we could do revision but almost in the same breath he also mentioned that he was retiring from his profession and moving to north texas. I was not comfortable with the other dr in this practice and never went back. Now 2014 and i am now seeing a well known dr here in south texas who has performed wls on several of my friends. He is willing to do revision surgery to bypass and said there should be no problems but im still really scared. I know i want this lapband gone and i desperately want to continue my weight loss journey and be successful. I feel like such a failure. Anyway im just waiting on insurance to approve revision surgery. They said id have an answer by this Thursday. Praying they approve it and i can have it in march. If anyone has advice or has heard of this situation please let me know. Id love to hear anything back. Thanks and so glad to be a part of this community and tell my story....finally.

Alrighty, things got real today!!! I'm so excited to be on the sugery schedule! Things have gone very fast. I made the decision to go for this new life on January 1st. I was in the enteromedics study with the recharge device. This has recently been fda approved, its a great device and it worked well for me....until there was a glitch and the thing shut off. So technically, I am having a revision.

Not at all Ypsibander. When I did the sleeve revision I was within 1 pound of my high when I band done six years earlier. July 19 - Started the revision pre-op liquid diet: 212 pounds July 27 (Night before surgery): 203 July 29 - Left the hospital: 200 February 21 (been a lengthy plateau): 168 The doctor says that I'm losing weight more slowly than most of his other sleeve patients. I suspect my body's metabolism had slowed significantly because I was throwing up most food during the entire year before the band was removed - even slider foods didn't always stay down. It's taken several months for me to figure out a key to getting the scale to budge. I'm working out 4 days a week and walking approximately 10,000 more steps a day. Working out has produced a lot of change in body shape. I'm down nearly 3 sizes. It's still slow going but even so this is the best decision that I ever made. My last labs are fantastic. Blood sugar is in the 80s and my health is remarkable. Good luck with your consultation.

I was wondering if anyone had any issues with insurance going from one bariatric surgery to another, I had the Lapband it slipped, (not from me over eating) I had it taken out about 6 months ago and looking to get gastric bypass... I'm worried my insurance won't approve me... Anyone have any insight? I am on my mothers insurance (I'm 24) and I also have Medicaid her insurance is Anthem Blue Cross Blue Sheild HMO Blue New England and we are from New Hampshire.. I know it depends on the individuals plan but I just wanted to see others issues or success...

Hi - I got my revision through Aetna. I had to do a three month supervised diet. Had to have a BMI over 40 at the end. I wish you the best!

Dr. Yau banded me in August of 2012 and I had nothing but grief when dealing with the clinic. I had to have port revision surgery once and even after that I found it incredibly difficult to sleep on my port side. After two years I just had my band remove, but not by Dr. Yau. Another doctor, Dr. Cyriac, at the clinic did the surgery at his hospital and he has been very helpful and excellent with follow-up care. I wish you luck in your battle. I am just glad that mine is over now - HOPEFULLY!

Hello-- I was revised on Tuesday and have experienced some humbling episodes during my recovery. I was hospitalized a day longer than anticipated because I didn't become fully alert from the anastesia until Thursday. I also couldn't get in enough of the liquids to satisfy my doctor I wouldn't become dehydrated shortly after leaving the hospital. Friday, I started to experience some of the most intense gas pains I've had in life! They persists in spite of multiple and satisfying bowel movements. Yesterday, I tried some cream-based chicken Soup, which did not agree with me. I started vomiting at 7 PM and didn't finish until 2 AM today! Admittedly, I have had at least two, "what have you done, you foolish girl?" moments, but all-in-all, my enthusiasm about having another chance to reach a more ideal and healthy weight hasn't been diminished. From reading posts on this and other sites, I know how embarrassed many of us feel about not being successful with our first (or even second) WLS attempt and some of us may even be carrying a bit of shame. My own conflicted feelings kept me from telling my only sister what I was having done until we were in the hospital, and I was being prepped for surgery. Up to that point, I'd told her I was being re-banded; she'd been through that with me and knew what to expect. Last night, though, when I was so sick and actually a bit frightened, I realized that by being covert in my actions, I hadn't put in place an adequate post-surgery care plan. All that vomiting and moving from the bed to the bathroom and back again left me exhausted, and I needed help. If you've done what I did and been withholding toward your loved ones, please be sure it doesn't come at the expense of your post-surgery needs. Now, as for pre-surgery weight loss, I've got nothing! All I had to do was five pounds, and I just made it. I relied on Meal Replacements and soup. Best to all! BL

Hi, I was revised from band to bypass last Tuesday and have been having regular movements, two- to three-times-a-day since Saturday. I haven't had to rely on softeners or laxatives, the consistency is normal, and I don't experience any discomfort. Good luck with your decision! BL

Hi I currently have the band and am trying to decide if I should have the revision to RNY or sleeve. I struggle with constipation so need to know which one will be better for my constipation trouble?