Scar Tissue With The Band?! :(

[alwayseating2012 15]

I'm having my band removed on aug 7th, my dr said if I have too much scar tissue, I have to wait 1 year before I can get my sleeve. I had the band placed in 2007. Did anyone have this problem? I'm super bummed because I had all the Fluid removed from the band 1 month ago and already gained 25 pounds...

[Kirstyn1226 8]

I just had my band removed on Thursday, July 19 and will be having VSG done but I was only told that I had to wait until I finished all the requirements of my insurance as I would if I did not have the band at all. For me that involves 12 weekly classes, two bariatrician appointments, one Psych appointment and another appointment with my surgeon after the other requirements are met. I already completed 7 of those classes and my surgeon was guessing that I would be seeing him again for the sleeve in November-ish. I was under for three hours for the removal and, according the my surgeon, the first 30 minutes was removing the band and the last 2 and a half hours was cleaning up scar tissue in preparation for the VSG. Now, I had my band for 9 and a half years so I completely expected a ton of scar tissue. And YMMV. I will be crossing my fingers for you that you don't have to wait a year.

I'm going to guess that each surgeon has their own preferences and experiences with doing a revision.

[Lianne 34]

How does the Dr know that you have too much scar tissue? Can you get a second opinion?

I had my band removed, and the sleeve done at the same time. Why risk two surgeries when it can be done all at the same time.

I'm so sorry for you. I spent a month unfilled and gained 15 lbs before my revision.

[SylviaMom 83]

I had my band removed in early June and have to wait until December for my sleeve because I had a band erosion and related scar tissue. At first, I was pretty depressed but know waiting is better than having a leak. Dr. Aceves, my surgeon, will do the revision in one surgery so long as there isn't an erosion or some other complication. It seems the practices vary quiet a bit so if you have the ability speak to a few different surgeons, i highly recommend doing so. Also be sure to ask how many revisions your surgeon has completed as revisions are more complicated than a virgin sleeve. good luck on your journey and hope you can get it done in one surgery!

[alwayseating2012 15]

How does the Dr know that you have too much scar tissue? Can you get a second opinion?

I had my band removed' date=' and the sleeve done at the same time. Why risk two surgeries when it can be done all at the same time.

I'm so sorry for you. I spent a month unfilled and gained 15 lbs before my revision.[/quote']

Lianne, dr told me when he is removing the band he is going to see if I have too much scar tissue. If so I have to wait 1 year.... I'm hope that I don't have to because I already applied for short term disability and have a month off work.

[Wheetsin 714]

Below in blue.

I'm having my band removed on aug 7th, my dr said if I have too much scar tissue, I have to wait 1 year before I can get my sleeve. I had the band placed in 2007. Did anyone have this problem? I have/had gobs of scar tissue (band in, GB out, slipped band, band out...) and was never told this. My sleeve was "tricky" because of the scar tissue, and I may always have tighter-than-average restriction because of it, but there was never a question about whether or not I'd be able to have it. I don't know how long you had your band, but mine was about 6 years, and about 4 of those it was slipped. I didn't have an erosion or anything, but I'd have tot hink that for intact anatomy, my scarring was probably pretty high up there. I'm super bummed because I had all the Fluid removed from the band 1 month ago and already gained 25 pounds... I mostly maintained (gained about 4 lbs) with my unfill, but as soon as my band was removed - holy balls. I gained about 60 lbs in 7 mos.

How does the Dr know that you have too much scar tissue? Can you get a second opinion?

I had my band removed, and the sleeve done at the same time. Why risk two surgeries when it can be done all at the same time. Each surgeon has their own preference, but most true revision surgeons require down time between the procedures. Waiting about 2 months decreases the complication rates something like 30% (it's been about a year since I've seen the statitics so this is as best as I can remember).

I'm so sorry for you. I spent a month unfilled and gained 15 lbs before my revision.

[Wheetsin 714]

How many revisions has your surgeon done? (AGB -> VSG?) Do you know? If not that's ok, but I'm curious. I'm not a surgeon, but I would question this when you next speak. Usually time just allows more scar tissue to form, so would he try and repair adhesions/scar tissue at the time of removal, and trust that you'll stay cleaned up until 12 months later?

I'm definitely ana dvocate of having a waiting period between procedures, but waiting a year because you have a lot of scar tissue just doesn't make sense. I'd definitely ask some clarifying questions if it were me.

Lianne, dr told me when he is removing the band he is going to see if I have too much scar tissue. If so I have to wait 1 year.... I'm hope that I don't have to because I already applied for short term disability and have a month off work.

[CowgirlJane 14,259]

I was given the choice of whether to do in one or do in two. My surgeon preferred separate surgeries to at theoretically reduce risk so i opted to go that route. Everything worked great, but don't know, it might have been fine to do in a single surgery. He said only needed about 2 months separation though.

I had the lapband for 10 years and it was slipped and totally encased in scar tissue.

[girliegirl 49]

i have been to 3 doctor for different opions. the first one told me No Way..he wouldn't do it. he said id have too much scar tissue and id be a mess inside. He opted for me to have a bypass which i don't want. then the other two doctors said they were fine with it. they did tell me that i have a staple line in my stomach from when my previous lap band was removed back in 2009! this concerns me a little because of leaks. the dr told me if he goes in and doesn't think he could do successfully then he won't. I've been back and forth trying to figure out if i want to do this and I'm still unsure. I'm so afraid because of the issues i have while i was banded. i just want to be a success and have no complications if i did have it. id never forgive myself if something bad happened from having it done.

[Wheetsin 714]

Removing a lapband doesn't require staples in your stomach. Why did they staple you?

i have been to 3 doctor for different opions. the first one told me No Way..he wouldn't do it. he said id have too much scar tissue and id be a mess inside. He opted for me to have a bypass which i don't want. then the other two doctors said they were fine with it. they did tell me that i have a staple line in my stomach from when my previous lap band was removed back in 2009! this concerns me a little because of leaks. the dr told me if he goes in and doesn't think he could do successfully then he won't. I've been back and forth trying to figure out if i want to do this and I'm still unsure. I'm so afraid because of the issues i have while i was banded. i just want to be a success and have no complications if i did have it. id never forgive myself if something bad happened from having it done.

[girliegirl 49]

well from what these other doctors told me they said the dr used the staple gun to cut the stomach that was holding the band on. i asked if that was the wrong way to do it and they said no not necessarily. now I'm sure if i opted to get the sleeve during the band removal then maybe the dr wouldn't have spa led me, I'm not sure. i feel like I'm the only one who has these staples in me and it makes me more at risk for leaks and i wish i knew of someone else who had these staple and had a successful sleeve.

[girliegirl 49]

i know removing the band doesn't require staples but i was told that the tool does 2 things. it cuts and at the same time staples and this is the tool the dr used to remove my band. i don't get it either. the reason i know of this is because i requested my operative reports to who the other drs and thats how i found out they were even in there.

[Wheetsin 714]

Sorry for the questions, I'm just intrigued. I have a small medical background and am a bit compelled to understand these things It still doesn't make sense, but I won't pester you for answers you don't have. I'll just have to go find something to get my mind out of "solve" mode.

[girliegirl 49]

lol, i don't mind you questioning me. I'm intrigued too. lol you see i was told it was easier for the dr to just do it that way to remove the band. i had a lap band in 7/06 and it slipped, i had it revised and new one in 10/07, then that band slipped and i have it taken out 1/09...thats when i guess the device was used to cut the band out. I'm not sure why they did that, i guess a dr would understand because the other drs i spoke too weren't surprised or concerned too much about it... hmm?????

[CowgirlJane 14,259]

So, let me get this straight... the device used was the stapler/cutter? Like they use to create the sleeve? I have never heard of this, but I am NOT an expert by any stretch.

What i know is that when my band was removed it was totally encased in scar tissue - I saw pictures - it was invisible and gross I might add. They did a lot of cutting to dig that sucker out. I didn't really ask what tool they used, but seems very odd to me about putting staples in.

Anyway, I would really listen to the surgeon's caution about this, assuming they are experienced at revisions....

ps - a look at my photos convinced me that the band is hardly some "low risk easily reversible device". Bullcrap - it causes damage.