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I don't know why he doesn't do it all at once. The band will still have given you scar tissue, and sometimes that may need to heal, but most of the time it seems people get the band out and revised in the same surgery if it's at all possible. Did he say why he wants to do it in two stages?

Thank you! I'd never heard of it either! Originally, I was going to have the gastric sleeve. However, after speaking with my surgeon, he suggested the Mini Bypass. Apparently, it's like the gastric sleeve and bypass combined somewhat.. that's not a great medical explanation, but you get the idea. lol. It's supposed to help with GERD (gastric reflux) too. Thank you! Blessings to you as well!

If I'm not mistaken, there is a non-adjustable band that is used in the Vertical Banded Gastroplasty (if that's the right terminology). It's a form of Bypass that also uses a band. ???

Hi, I am having surgery in 8 days but I am sure I can answer a few of your questions... I have not read of anyone dying because of the surgery, I have heard of a few people dying from underlying illnesses, mostly heart problems that were not caught in time. Before the surgery they put you on an adtkins like diet- 2 - 3 weeks before. Now I have heard that some have had no pre- surgery diet. But this is to help shrink the stuff around the liver and make it easier to work around. Right after it will be Clear liquids for up to 2 week so your stomach can heal. You will slowly work you way up to solid food. About a month to 6 weeks later you will most likely be able to eat solid food. You will get full a lot faster, and you can overeat, but then you will just end up throwing up or PBing. You can do serious damage if you do not listen to you stomach when you are full. After about 6 weeks of no weight loss and more critera of no loss of weight you will go in for a "fill" in which the band will be filled with saline to make you have restriction. This might take a few fills to hit what they call the "sweet spot" this is when you can eat very small portions and still lose weight. The band is permant unless there is complications or you wish to remove it. It took me 3 months to complete all of my appointments, sum 30 appointments total..It was stressful, but at the end well worth it. There are so many people on this board and you will get a wide variety of stories and opinions, so here is mine. Also here are the differences (in my opinion) of what the procedures are and why I chose the one I did! I have done some extensive weighing of the options, I found out that once you do the gastric bypass, you can not do anything else. The gastric bypass is a "quick fix" which is you lose the weight quickly. But once your body recovers and 3 or 4 yrs down the road if you have not changed your eating habits you will gain a lot of the weight back. I have read some recent articles in people magazine of people gaining all the weight back plus more 3 to 4 yrs later and they can not have banding or any other surgery. I have heard so many sad stories of complications and deaths that it scared the crap out of me. With the band it is a continuous life time changing procedure. It is reversable, and yet while you are learning to eat right 3 to 4 yrs down the road if you find yourself gaining, you can go in for a fill to get yourself back on track. Yes the weight loss is gradual, but it helps your body adjust as you learn better eating habits. I have heard about complications, but most are relatively minor and can be quickly corrected. I have heard of no deaths that are directly from the surgery. And only 2 that were because of underlying illnesses that were not caught before the procedure. And this is why I chose the procedure... Good luck in what ever decision you make... Baileym Hope this helps! Baileym ____________ June 14th

Donali, I'm really worried here because nobody has ever mentioned avoiding medications. I took a Motrin yesterday. Not one single word about avoiding pills from my doc. Where are you getting your info, and where can I get the full book? My biggest complaint about the band is the vast difference in information. I wish doctors would be more consistant. I'm supreised INAMED doesn't require each patient to sign off on receiving a booklet. If I didn't happen upon this post, I'd never know about aspirin. What about Tylenol, Motrin, anti-anxiety meds, thyroid med? Right after surgery I was taking liquid Children's Motrin and Tylenol. Now I can take regular pills. Even took a large Vitamin today, although I'm only taking my big Vitamins till they're gone since I was told to try Flintstone's chewables. Regarding the mortality rate, Dr. Ortiz said it's zero in Mexico for 10 years now while gastric bypass is one in 50.

I will have to self pay for my revision, but I know I need the tool to help me maintain weight loss. Good luck and keep us posted!

I will be following your progress :) I think my revision will be in March tbd exact date. To be honest, I know I need to just relax, but I am terrified of gaining weight in between the removal and the revision.

Hello, I had the lap band in 2008 and lost 63 pounds. I began to have problems (I.e. vomiting, erosion of the band) and had it removed. Gained back all that I lost and more. In 2020 I had the sleeve and 7.5 months later I have lost 80 pounds and still going. When having a revision my Dr explained that you will lose slower. Let me know if you have any other questions.

I really don't think it's that bands are a failure-- it's that its just so easy to get around their restriction. And as overweight people we KNOW ways to get our fix of foods (or I do, anyways)! I KNOW my band can work for me-- I also know that I cheated that puppy for almost 4 years, so I can see their concern. But, I've got friends who went the bypass route who have gained back pretty much all of their weight, so by that reasoning, all WLS is faulty, right?

My doc spoke to me about the bypass after my band failed, but he also thought I'd have success with the sleeve. I just didn't want to go the bypass route. That just seemed too drastic to me. Removing most of my stomach was scary enough. Good luck with your decision. Let us know what you decide.

Bayugirmrsc, Thanks for sharing Jake.... by the way, Jake is one of my fav. names....js. anywho... My friend and "lapband" mentor had to have her band removed last month and she opted for the sleeve. I talked with her yesterday as a matter of fact and she is SOOOOO happy with the sleeve. I hope and Pray that you have great results also. Please keep us posted. _________________________________________________________________________ As of May 4, my band is out and I was sleeved during the same surgery. My sleeve doctor will do both removal and sleeve if there is not a large amount of scar tissue and if the band/stomach is in good shape, where other surgeons will not do two in one. All went well for me. What I can say is that for me, this one was quite a bit more painful than the initial lapband install surgery, but, my doc warned me. The incision where he removed the port was the worst as far as pain! But then, It was like over night and the pain got better and manageable. I'm down 23 lbs. already which includes the 2 week pre-op diet til today. I'm at the gym again at turtle speeds and feeling great! I needed to tell someone and you asked if I would keep you posted and I went forth, Thank you for that. BTW, Jake is my middle name and I use it because I also like it very much. If you noticed I've changed my display name from jakealta to NoMoBand making it an official name change, but, jake is out of the name :-( So, so far so good, Thank God!!!! Should you ever find yourself in a predicament with a possible revision and have questions, please do ask. I'm here to help. God Bless and thanks again. Jake

My spleen was scarred by the lap band and was nicked. Couldn't stop the bleeding so they had to take the spleen too. So got a bigger scar and annual vaccinations with my bypass. Talk about freebies. Still in hospital. May leave tomorrow or the next day. Sip, sip, sip!

I agree. I thought the sleeve was as drastic as I cared to Go. Plus I have a friend who got a bypass and she has always looked so unhealthy.. Like she's lacking nutrients and is dull. Even her long hair now looks like its brittle. Could be from lack of vitimin absorption as most bypass patients suffer from. I never asked her. She is on lifetime meds too

@Mhy12784 - if added muscle is your goal, then no. While it is true that you will need more protein & calories in order to build muscle, that protein will need to be digested first in order to make it available for synthesis. The majority of digestion takes place in the stomach. The intestines is where the digested food and nutrients is then transferred to the blood stream. If the food is washed out of the stomach before it is completely broken down, it will not be absorbed and will mostly pass through the intestines. This is more likely with bypass patients as it is textbook malabsorption. If you truly need more protein and calories in a fast absorbing form, look for a hydrolized protein. To the OP, it is exactly like you stated, a slippery slope. Eventually you can form the habit to drink while eating which will wash the food out of you stomach and you will get hungry sooner. I am almost 3 years out and the only modification I have made to the 30/30 rule originally given to me is that I will drink up until I start eating. After I start, I do not take another drink until 30 minutes after my last bite. I find that while I may at first be dying for a drink, after a few minutes, that desire fades. Only time that is it difficult is when I am eating something that is spicy (e.g. homemade habanero jelly).

Well, Removal surgery is scheduled this Friday..how's that for quick, and RNY is scheduled for January 26th. I've got a couple of questions for my doc, but I want to run this up the flagpole with you all first. Why not do the surgery all at once? I've not had any fill in months, so I can't imagine i would need to give anything a "rest", no reflux, heartburn etc. How much (of the instestine) does he plan on "bypassing" Who has discussed this with their surgeon? If so what kind of answer? Thanks for any and all input!

If I forget and drink too close to eating, I get very very sick. It has only happened a few times. I was researching caffeine after surgery and read this in one of the health articles. Caffeine causes dehydration and acts as an appetite stimulant. Carbonation can cause increased bloating and discomfort, especially after gastric bypass surgery. Drinking too soon before or after a meal will cause fullness and may lead to dumping syndrome.

Hi All - For those of you who are new or don't remember, I tore one of my port sutures at the end of July. I was stretching for something that was just out of reach, and kind-of did a lunge. I immediately felt a sharp sting, and as the next couple of days went by I was in severe pain. Of course, I was on vacation... lol Far, far from my band doc, so I toughed it out with liquid Tylenol. Did you know that stuff was made by saints? lol Anyway, after two weeks the pain was bearable, but I was uncomfortable and I had a big bulge where my port was. When I went in for my last fill, the doc manually turned the port back upside right, and I was able to get a successful fill, but unfortunately the corrected position did not last. Saturday I finally went in to have it battened back down. I was put under full anesthesia (it had been my understanding that this would be a quick/simple fix done with a local, but whatever). Dr. Lopez used the same port incision from before. Apparently of the four possible places on the port to use to suture, it is his practice to only do two sutures. So I had indeed torn one free, but the port was still attached on the other suture. He removed that suture as well, and reattached the port with two new sutures. He assures me it is now in the "perfect" position. So far I feel like I am able to breathe deeply without any pulling, which was not the case prior to my tearing the suture, so I am happy. A little sore, but happy. I have a big dent under where the port incision is (that was there before the repair), which looks kind of weird. I don't know if that will eventually level out or not. I am still numb in the area, so don't know if the feeling will return - I don't recall being numb anywhere after my first surgery. I am much more comfortable now than I was when my port was turned. My shoulders, neck and jaw are extremely stiff and sore, but that seems to be working out and lessening each day. So the fix was a bigger deal than I expected (all together I spent about 6 hours there for the 25 minute surgery), but pain-wise not terrible. The worst part was the expense - $1821. OUCH! But worth it to once again be pain-free. Moral of the story: Don't tear your port sutures! lol

Thanks for sharing that story, Donali. What a drag! But it could have been a lot worse--once again showing that most of even dramatic lap-band complications really aren't all that dramatic. I'm so glad they were able to repair it easily, but sorry it cost you so much moola. Please let us know if your dent evens out and when feeling returns (which I'm absolutely sure it will). Now: Watch yourself! Don't be doing any calisthenics until this is well and truly healed in place. No more port revisions!! :D

I wanted the sleeve but my insurance wouldn't cover it. The surgeon said I would lose more weight with the bypass anyway. I don't regret it, but wonder about why I couldn't have the sleeve.

I was always wanting the bypass...but my surgeon wanted me to have the sleeve..I reluctently agreed as he was the professional...but in the same day he asked me to go for an Endoscopy..to see if I had reflux as Im taking "omeprozole"...Last week I had the Endoscopy and glad I did..as it showed not only having a hole of about 2cm....I had a Hiatus Hernia and full reflux. An hour later my surgeon came in......he said right you will now have a full bypass...due to what I found in the results...im happy so happy..I finally got what I knew was best for me..and it will get rid of my reflux and repair the hole too. So those who suffer reflux must be better to have the bypass..seeing from the notes Ive read on here and my own experience. Id never have a Band..no way...the bypass I feel will give me back a certain control Ive never had before...rather than food controlling me!

You live in Texas and have for the first time in your life put SWEATERS on your Christmas list!!!! Merry Christmas all and God Bless!

For treating a regain problem, I prefer the DS as it is stronger metabolically than either the VSG or RNY - the RNY is too close to the VSG in strength to reliably offer a significant improvement in weight loss, from what I have seen over the years. Figure maybe 20lb loss on average - about what one would expect from going through all the intense dieting associated with going through surgery again. (There are some who do significantly better, bit it seems to be more a function of their determination to "make this work" or "not screw it up again" than the actual surgery itself. Call it something like a surgical placebo, lol.) By your surgeons not finding the codes for the DS implies that they are talking about the newer SIPS/SADI/"loop DS" which is a single anastomosis adaptation of the traditional BPD/DS (biliopancreatic diversion) which has been routinely covered by US insurance and Medicare for the past 14-15 years, but is a more complex procedure that relatively few bariatric surgeons perform. Some practices that do the SIPS/SADI use the BPD/DS billing codes which is technically insurance fraud, but if they're comfortable doing it, that's their concern. Revising the VSG to a DS, of either flavor, is straightforward as each use the VSG as its basis (some don't even consider it a revision, more a "completion" of the ultimate configuration.) The strong point of the BPD/DS is its regain resistance - regain is possible as it is with any of these procedures, but it is harder. I know many with the DS who are 10-20 years out (my wife included) who are still maintaining a healthy weight; some are up a bit more and working on losing their "Covid 19" - just like "normal" people but major regains are relatively uncommon. The SIPS/SADI type of DS seems to fall somewhere in between the VSG/RNY and the BPD/DS - I have seen a few in the various forums who have had it and seem to be doing well with it, but it doesn't have as long a history. Any of these procedures - the RNY, DS or SIPS - will be somewhat fussier and less care-free than your VSG when it comes to supplements and follow up; the RNY is maybe a bit less so, but one can get into some serious trouble with any of them if one slacks off. If keeping up with supplements and annual labs is not an issue with you, then any of them should be fine.

Hi! I just recently got my band completely unfilled due to a slip. While my doctor was unwilling my band he recommended that I consider revising to the sleeve. I've heard so many great success stories with the sleeve that I am really considering going through with it. My only question is, do people with the sleeve struggle with getting "stuck" like those with the band can? Since having a slip with my band I cannot imagine going through that same struggle permanently with the sleeve. Any advice is welcome! Thanks!

Yes I agree you should have had a gastric bypass at your weight. If Dr Ungson is no longer in practise I am sure that whomever he trained is well qualified. I had bariatric surgeries in Mexico by two different doctors and both surgeries were great. Best of luck!! Oh and I hear that yes DS is under 10,000 I had a quote and I beleive it was 9 and change.

Yeah the pain meds don't help the gas pains. It sucks. When I had my lap band removed last year, I did take activated charcoal capsules for the gas pains and it did help. But I won't take it after my revision surgery because it can cause prevent absorption of nutrients. Do you use CBD oil for your chronic pain? I use it and it helps me a lot. I have RA.