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Hi Mare, I have heard of a band being placed after a failed RNY; however, the sleeve wouldn't be an option. I wondered though, have you checked out a procedure called the ROSE procedure? I will copy and paste what I found below: ROSE Procedure, Restorative Obesity Surgery, Endolumenal, obesity surgery, gastric bypass, Albany, Macon, Columbus, Dotham Restorative "Incisionless" Obesity Surgery Even the most successful gastric bypass patients occasionally regain weight [/url]New surgical technology now allows surgeons to treat one of the potential sources of this weight regain. The ROSE procedure (Restorative Obesity Surgery, Endolumenal) provides an incisionless surgical option to restore gastric bypass patients' anatomy to closely match original post-surgery sizes Dr. Bagnato performs the scar-free ROSE Procedure (Restorative Obesity Surgery, Endolumenal) entirely through the mouth without making any external incisions into the body. Eliminating incisions means less risk than traditional open or laparoscopic surgery, minimal post operative pain, fast recovery time and no scarring. Patients generally report minimal or no pain after the procedure and many of them return to work and normal activities the next day. Who is eligible? Patients who originally lost significant weight following gastric bypass but who now find themselves regaining weight may be ideal candidates for this procedure. After an initial screening, you will undergo a series of evaluations including nutritional and dietary counseling, a full medical exam, and endoscopy to determine if you are a good candidate. What does the ROSE procedure entail? The ROSE procedure is performed with the patient under anesthesia using a four-channel tube and special Incisionless Surgery tools. The bariatric surgeon advances the flexible tube and a small endoscope through the patient's mouth, into the stomach pouch. The surgeon will then insert the surgical tools through the channels of the tube. Tissue anchors are used to create multiple tissue folds around the stoma to reduce the diameter. The surgeon will then use the same technique to place anchors in the stomach pouch to reduce its volume. Are there other treatment options available? To perform the initial gastric bypass, the bariatric surgeon creates smaller stomach "pouch" and then bypasses the top portion of the small intestine. The procedure leaves a significant amount of scar tissue behind. This scar tissue makes traditional or "open" revision (performed through an abdominal incision) surgery far riskier than the original surgery. The most feared complication of gastric bypass - a leak, an incomplete tissue connection that allows the stomach contents to spill into the body - is four times more common in revision procedures than in the original bypass. Most surgeons don't perform open revisions today because of the risks. In recent years, many medical device companies have developed new tools that allow surgeons to operate through the mouth. We've chosen a set of tools known as the EndoSurgical Operating SystemTM (EOS) because the system's sutures and tissue anchors distribute holding force across tissue, leading us to believe that they will hold longer than other tissue fasteners. The EOS is also unique because it allows us to reduce the size of both the pouch and the stoma. How long will you need to stay in the hospital? Hospital stay is determined on a case-by-case basis. You may be discharged the same day if the procedure was done early in the morning or Dr. Bagnato may want you to stay overnight. Your surgeon will make the determination following your procedure. What are the benefits of an Incisionless procedure? By eliminating skin incisions, the new procedure may provide important advantages to patients, including reduced risk of infection and associated complications, less post-operative pain, faster recovery time and no abdominal scars. What type of side effects can I expect? It is anticipated that patients will feel little or no discomfort from the procedure. To date, the only noted side effects have been short-term sore throat, swelling of the tongue or lip discomfort from the insertion of the instruments into the mouth. These issues usually go away in one or two days. Is it safe? As with any surgery there is risk involved. This less invasive approach should reduce the likelihood of many of the complications associated with the other open or laparoscopic revision procedures. ROSE is a new procedure, however, and long term outcomes are unknown. What is the success rate? As with any weight loss procedure, results vary with each patient. The ROSE procedure has been well tolerated and most patients immediately lose weight as they eat less - with the return of the early feeling of "fullness" due to the restriction of the new, smaller pouch. The ROSE procedure is new and long-term data are not yet available. What is the recovery process? Typically, patients return to normal activity within a few days of their procedure. Dr. Bagnato will give you specific instructions. In addition, you will be required to follow a post-procedure diet and exercise plan, similar to the regimen prescribed following your initial bypass surgery. This generally means that patients will need to consume only liquids for a day or two after the surgery, and then slowly add soft, pureed foods for about two weeks before resuming a regular diet. To help you on your journey, follow-up appointments with Dr. Bagnato and regular visits with our bariatric support staff will be required. Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery LAP-BAND System REALIZE Band Advantages of LAP-BAND LAP BAND Adjustments StomaphyX procedure ROSE Procedure Weight Loss Procedure Videos Weight Loss Surgery| Meet Our Team| LAP-BAND System| REALIZE Band| StomaphyX proced

I don't think I am scared of the bigger band and I look at the band as being a tool to loose weight. However, I just think that you may get to your goal faster and can maintain the weight easier with a tighter/smaller band. If that is what your anatomy needs. Only the doctor knows what you look like inside when he/she opens you up. My doctor has been banding people for about 8 years and he says he uses the smaller one with most people, men and women. He also says that he has only had this swelling issue with one other patient. I tend to trust his opinion that based on my anatomy the smaller one is better but if my body swells then I will have the same problem again. Therefore, when he opens me up again he is going to see how much room I have and may change it out for a bigger band. I am between 5' 2" and 5' 3" feet tall and weigh 211.6 as of today. I was 230'ish pre op and was about 222 the day of surgery. I am not big boned, nor am I small boned. My doctor says he reserves the larger band for larger people and was very surprised at my amount of swelling. In fact I still feel swollen. I would love to see the stats on maintenance based on band size. That would probably give a more accurate perspective. Also, the reason for attempting to keep this band in me is that my doctor feels that I will have better results over the long run with this size band. Your doctor is the one with the experience and if one size versus another is not right for you he/she will tell you. That is one of the things you are paying him/her for. I am hoping to keep the smaller band because it is the one he though was best for me when he opened me up. However, I am aware that he may change it for the bigger one if the swelling has not gone down. Ultimately I will not know until I wake up after the revision. You need to talk to your doctor and be willing to work with him/her as to what is right for you. Your doctor has the experience and the stats both personal and from the manufacturer. If you do not have faith in your doctors judgment you should find another doctor. I am not a doctor and am just sharing my opinions and experiences with those who are interested. I wish everyone well in this journey and I hope us all great success.

I was banded March 25, 2008 Yes I have thrown up! I would throw up occasionally the first six months when I would try new foods or eat improperly - meaning not chewing each bite enough, eating too fast, etc or attempting a food I simply knew I couldn't consume. However, I developed a concentric pouch dilitation after another abdominal surgery almost a year post op. When that happened, I threw up daily, just about every meal, or anytime I put something in my mouth. It varied. I couldn't pinpoint exactly anything, it was very fickle and not normal or predictable. I thought it was normal for awhile, but it was not. throwing up like that is not normal. once the problem was identified, I went through months of trying to fix it nonsurgically with fills and unfills. Got sick alot. Finally had to have a revision. Hope this helps!

I hope that they are able to do it in one surgery with no complications. I know that dealing with two surgeries would be stressful AND very expensive. Hopefully the damage won't be very extensive. As for the recovery after the band removal, I don't know. I have known only a couple of people that had their bands out without getting a revision, but they didn't really talk about anything special as far as the diet. I'm sorry that I couldn't help with that part. Good luck and many prayers for you with your surgery.

Hope all works out! I had two EGD-a month apart . Biggest side effect was I slept so good after getting home. Was happy the next day was Saturday. Sore throat was worse on the second one. I am a revision patient. Sleeve to DS

I had rny gastric bypass and am wondering if I can have a revision surgery done.

@Simply_Divine sorry you are going through acid reflux bummer, painful!! my dr told me prior to surgery that the reflux is a common side effect from the VSG he told me if i was prone to it before, the sleeve might make it worse. Or you could just start having the reflux for the 1st time in your life, Luckily it never bothered me over these past 5+ years. I've read that many Peeps that suffer like you do, might have a revision surgery to gastric bypass. That should get rid of the problem ! hope you can take care of this problem sooner than later good luck kathy

Just got a call from surgical scheduling, arrival time is 6:15 am, they will start shortly thereafter. I'm the first one of the day. Please say a prayer everything goes well and doctor is able to so the revision. So excited and nervous. Thank you all!

I currently have a band and now I am seeking a revision to the RNY. I wish you the best of luck!!! p.s. listen to the doc

I'm a band to bypass revision on March 21. I wish I had listened five years ago when the PA at my surgeons office said you need to have a bypass not the band. I paid for not listening with five years of misery. It works for some people but the numbers are small over the long term. I wish my first wls had been my last. So looking forward to my revision! Best of luck to you.

Hi Veritas! Like you, I wanted to lap band, but had some reservations. I started this journey last year. My doctor told me it was my decision, but... he did tell me how many revision surgeries he's done in the past two or so years - these are patients who had the band, and ended up - for various reasons - getting the RNY surgery. I didn't want to end up having two separate surgeries, especially since he's old school and said I'd have to wait another 6-9months and go through the whole insurance drama again if I needed to get the second surgery. I researched the RNY to the ground and decided to go through with it. I'm only 2 weeks post-op and feeling pretty good so far! I'd say get a second opinion if it would make you feel comfortable with whatever choice you end up making. We all know it's a long road to get us even to contemplate and to go through with surgery, so I wish you the best!

Your story sounds sooooooo much like mine! I was convinced I was only going to do the band! My hubby wasn't thrilled but was ok with just the band...then after hours upon hours obsessively researching my options I decided the bands success rate and limitations were NOT for me! I have decided to make a life changing decision about my health ,happiness,&the way I view who I am..the band while I'm sure works for some...has a VERY high failure rate & complications...if you will really look @ different post on here I think you will see that many people are having revisions from band to RNY...I will finish my 6 month diet in April & should have surgery in the spring (God willing!) I was terrified of the thought of RNY now I cannot wait!!! I have prayed that Gods will be done where this surgery is concerned for me.i have total peace now & am confident it is the right decision for me !Also you will receive so much support here ...it's almost like a extended family ..everyone is supportive and truely can relate to you...if you ever need to vent or ask questions people are always here...I hope that you will find peace in your decision !!! hugs

Wow Mymiserys - that is an awesome loss! How do you feel? Did you find the weight just fell of you quickly??? Amazing that your almost at goal! Will you be happy losing those last few pounds? Or will you revise your goal???

Hey all! Total bp newbie here I already love it, enough that I felt like signing up as a VIP was well worth it. My psych was the one who recommended it to me and then I saw another post about it on a WLS reddit...and here I am. I'm 39, married to my best friend for 10 years now, mommy to the greatest little boy ever. I'm originally from IL/WI but we migrated south a few years ago to escape the snow We're geeky types...we were both in IT until I took leave to stay home with our son. I'm looking forward to returning to the working world once he starts kindergarten. In the meantime I've built a small part-time business selling my artwork, which is a great creative outlet for me. I was banded 10 years ago and I'm working towards a revision to an RNY early next year (just waiting to hear back from the insurance company at this point). There's a lengthy story to go with how I ended up heavy in the first place, and my initial WLS journey....but that's what the 'my story' section is for so I won't go into it here. Anyways, I hope to chit-chat with everyone around the forums, I'd post a picture but I haven't quite gotten the hang of where to upload my media yet....I'll find it eventually *Edit* - hey look, by george I think she's got it! Cheers!

I depend upon the band to take away ALL my hunger and cravings, mentally, and to control my portion sizes which I happy to say it does........I don't count calories,have not for over 2 years now...... just make wise food choices with what little I am able to eat.... I am unable to stick with any plan and eat a measured amount of food....I need the band to do that for me.....and it does.... If I were to get a un-fill, it would all be a disaster for me....I depend upon the band for everything....that's why I had the surgery in the first place, was unable to loose weight without it no matter what diet I tried.... Mosts posts you read about people "Failing" and gaining their weight back can usually be linked to some medical issue where they needed a un-fill or band revision....OR they never where in the Green Zone in the first place and depended upon their own selves and discipline for the weight loss.... But with the bands adjusted as it is...it would be IMPOSSIBLE for me to gain any weight back...I know, I have put it to the test and it was a no-go...could not over eat....

Mine didn't get serious till about 4 or 5 years later too. It got to the point that it was "uncontrollable" and no PPI worked. It wasn't till my throat was literally burning 24/7 that I decided I had to get it revised or I would be risking throat cancer.

For those who haven't been following my story............... I was diagnosed with an eroded band in November of 2011 and had it removed in March of 2012. I had to wait for six months before revising to the gastric sleeve as my surgeon wanted to wait for me to heal completely and do medical tests before confirming that I would be a good candidate for the sleeve. I have complete those tests and he was satisfied that I could have the sleeve. We also found that I had developed another hiatal hernia (the first one was repaired when I had my lap band surgery). My predetermination request for the sleeve surgery was denied. They stated that I needed to complete a six month weight loss program in order for them to consider my request. I asked my surgeon's insurance coordinator to appeal based on the reasoning that this was a repeat surgery for a lap band that had medically failed me and that I shouldn't have to complete the six month medically supervised weight loss program. She filed an appeal but no where in the letter did it address the six month weight loss program so of course they denied me again stating that we still hadn't submitted the records they had requested. Frustrated beyond belief, I took the initiative to write my own appeal letter. I used language from the BCBS-AL bariatric policy regarding repeat surgeries and their rationale for requiring the six month weight loss program and explained how I had met that rationale just by having a lap band for four years and that my waiting for six months before revising to another surgery was not conducive to improving my health. I just got off the phone with BCBS-AL and they have approved my surgery!!!!!! I am actually shocked that I succeeded in my appeal. I fully expected them to deny me and had already started the medically supervised six month weight loss program in preparation for that denial (and have lost 10 lbs over a six week period which is nice). I'm excited, relieved and nervous! I've been through this before so I don't know why but I am. I was very successful with my lap band (losing 94 lbs). I remember how wonderful it felt to be thin and feel good about myself and how I looked and not to be in pain anymore from carrying around all this extra weight (yes I packed the pounds back on after my band was removed). I can't wait to be there again! Yeah me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am back at 1 1/2 yrs out.Banded Nov 05, hope I count...lost 45lbs, had major back surgery in January so 6 months of no or little exercise. Thank goodnes for the band. I had a weird problem. I think I need to have a little taken out of the band but I am scared. If I eat three hours before bed and it is not practically liquid, I wake up choking. I try real hard not to do that.I am now really aware of what I am eating, definatly protein. I cannot eat in the early morn so I have a warm protein drink, the warmth seems to open the band. If I have some removed I am worried that I will be able to get too much in. I finally got filled to what I felt was the right amount. I just hate choking and figure it is really a must to pay attention and not eat meat that is not ground, or anything too heavy at dinner. I have stayed at this weight, otherwise without the band and a surgery( had 7 knee replacement revision in 5 years) why I gained so much, I would surely have gained again. I have not read of anyone being maybe overfilled and choking and or coughing during the night..... Anyone hear??? Info would be great. Debra

I am a band to vsg revision 2 years ago. The acid remains to the point I take 40mg nexium daily and still have break through. Dr has told me recently that I may have to revise to rny to fix the problem. He also told me that he no longer revises band to sleeve only band to bypass because of the acid issue. Good luck. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Would like to revise from band to sleeve but am concerned about this reflux issue. Even before having the band I had issues with acid reflux. I have it well under control now by taking omeprazol daily, but am concerned that with the sleeve the omeprazol won't be effective. Has anyone been ableto control their reflux succesfully by taking a ppi after VSG? Thnaks!

Hearburn/reflux is a very well-documented side effect of sleeve surgery, whether you are having a revision from lap band or this is a first bariatric procedure. If you have a hiatal hernia, see if your surgeon can repair it during your sleeve surgery. This is a very common cause of GERD and having it repaired can make a huge difference. I had occasional GERD prior to my sleeve surgery, my surgeon fixed it during my sleeve surgery and no GERD since. Many sleevers take a PPI such as omeprazole or Protonix for several months after surgery -- talk to your surgeon about this. If you already have GERD and it is not caused by a hernia or some other repairable deformity, then gastric bypass may be something you want to consider. Sleeve surgeries can cause or worsen GERD but bypass cures it something like 98% of the time.

LAP-BAND,laparoscopic banding,bariatric surgery,obesity Tracy's FAQ LAP-BAND: Surgery Technique Weight-Loss Surgeries Compared You could also join his egroup and talk to lots of other patients. It's really a great group. Dr. Aceves is the VP of the Mexican Bariatric Assoc., and the Secretary of the International Bariatric Assoc. Both those positions are voted on by members so he is even respected by US docs. Things that you want to look for are issues such as... does your doc do surgery in a clinic or hospital? Mexico is not the same as the US, if you were to have a complication in a clinic and needed to be transported to a hospital it is not as easy as calling 911 and they are there in minutes. It's a whole different ballgame. I preferred to be in a fully equipped hospital with an ER, ICU, CCU, PICU, OR, etc. What kinds of procedures does the doc do? Does he ONLY do banding? Banding is the easiest of all procedures. I chose Aceves because he can do the tricky stuff, the bypass to band revisions, sleeve, etc. Many docs won't touch the hard stuff. How close do you want to be to the border? Some have a preference, some do not. I wanted to be close to the border. Just my personal opinion but I think the best two docs in Mexico from my research are Rumbaut and Aceves. They are who others refer to for the more complicated procedures. They both work out of a hospital, they don't do assembly line surgery, they both open the patient, place the band, and close the patient unlike other docs who have the asst. surgeon do most of the work. They are both well respected in the Mexican medical community, they both train US docs in banding, they are both safe surgeons. When people talk about how many bands someone has done, keep in mind that many times the docs strive to do 10 procedures a day. They have the Asst. Surgeon do most of the work, they spend about 15 minutes in OR with the patient, the asst. does everything else. Personally, I wouldn't want to be the 10th OR patient in the day. Rumbaut and Aceves limit their surgeries to 4-5 daily because they are doing the entire procedure. Lots of things to think about and consider when going to Mexico. It can be a very safe experience, but research is essential.

Hi Chrissy, While I don't have any insight for you on what your going through, I wonder if you might have some for me... Why did your bands fail you? It sounds like you lost weight with the band, how did it fail? I wish you the best on your upcoming revision.

Hello, I may as well say I am new here. Did not visit or participate much when I had the lap-band on 06/28/11. Have had a hard time with the lap-band. Did loose 40 lb's, even though I never got above a 5ml fill. Had a lot of problems with GERD and had to stay below 5ml's. Now I have damage to my esophagus and the insurance approved a revision, so here I go. The RNY has always scared me, and that is why I did not have it done the first time. But, here I go, having it done now. I am looking for advise on how to handle all the changes that are heading my way, and how to get my husband and sons to understand what it will be like. After all this time, my husband still can't remember why I can't drink with my meal. So, I look forward to this new journey.

Hi All I'm having my sleeve revision surgery in two weeks and I'm nervous. Just wondering if anyone has had a revision and would love to hear how it's working for you. How long was the recovery the second time around?