No need to take my word for it look around the boards.
10-15% is a huge number! The band doesn't help diabetics losing weight does, and that makes the other surgeries more effective.
I have been extremely compliant, I eat very clean and still had problems.
The band is a short term solution, and is not meant to be left
In permanently, you will eventually need surgery to either replace it, repair it, revise the surgery all together. Had I been told that up front I would have opted for the sleeve.
Additionally the "older" the band is meaning, getting past 3-5 years the incident a of failure and removal moves up sharply.
It is NOT a safe device, and has not been marketed with full disclosure