Long Term Lap Band

[cmartin15 3]

Hello,

I am considering lapband surgery. I am not severely overweight but i have struggled my whole life. BMI 36.. I am a 27 yr old male. I am just worried the long term complications of the surgery. There are allot of people on here that are in the two and three years post op but not any older ones. I am aware that many of them loose interest in the discussion after the new wears off and they are " living their new skinny life" but it would help me to talk to some one who has had the surgery for long term anyone had the band longer than 5, 10 years?

[difa 114]

I'm 36, 5'10" and my bmi is 38. I weigh 265lbs ... so while I'm obese, my bmi is low enough that my insurance said I had to have a co-morbidity, so I got a sleep test and found out I have severe sleep apnea. I'm in the same boat as you. Good luck to you on your journey!

[difa 114]

One thing you'll see is that the band has gone through changes since it was initially used. The band today is safer than the one yesterday...less slippage and failures. I hope to get my band in June.

[Fantasy 104]

I will have had my band 7 years in August. It took me a year to lose all of my weight. I have kept it off. I have had no problems. There is a learning curve as how to eat. Slowly and chew food well. This was the hardest part for me to learn. I had an excellent doctor who was very strict about following the criteria. I had very small fills and it took about 9 months before I got perfect restriction. I was in no hurry and just took it one day at a time. I only lost about 6 lbs. per month, but I got to goal, actually lower and have stayed within 10 lbs. I never compared myself with anyone. I did mild exercise. I never pushed myself as I knew if I did this I would be sabotaging my self and get back into the habits that got me fat in the first place. You MUST make a committment especially til you get to goal. Best of luck in your journey.

[Cocoabean 430]

This board is generally populated by folk from the US. Not all, but most.

Part of it is that US insurance companies for the most part did not start paying for the band until 2007-2008. So many people here in the US did not get banded before that time. I just recently found out that I was one of my surgeon's first band patients.

I passed 4 years on Feb 15 of this year. I was banded in 2008. I've had no complications. My band did recently tighten up for 6 weeks for no reason, it then loosened up. It is back to normal now, but my surgeon wants to do an endoscopy to be sure all is OK. I am waiting on insurance approval for that.

[cmartin15 3]

Thanks for the input. I just want to make sure this is right for me.

[Jachut 487]

I've had my band since 2005, its coming up for seven years. I lost 130% of my excess weight and have kept it off, no real problems. What do you want to know? Ask away.

[tammyj 15]

I was banded 5 years ago and just had revision surgery 2 day ago for slippage. Obviously there are risks and complications associated with this surgery. I am at my goal weight and although I have had problems I am still so very happy to be banded! Experiences vary...some succeed some don't. Do your research then you will be able to make the right decision for you. Good Luck!

[spoiltmom 44]

Tammy, are you self pay or insurance? Ive always wondered how hard it is to get insurance to cover a replacement band if your BMI is in a normal range.

[tammyj 15]

Tammy, are you self pay or insurance? Ive always wondered how hard it is to get insurance to cover a replacement band if your BMI is in a normal range.

My insurance covered it no questions asked. Revision or removal I'm assuming most insurances will cover it if they approved the intitial band placement.