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Trisha...my banding was almost one year ago! I have been extremely happy with Realize band! I think 2 surgeons is great and it is really the port that is "installed" differently/ Instead of being sewn on the muscle fascia...it has a tool (think of it like a "bedazzler" which stamps the claws onto the fascia!) I have had 2 friends need lap band port revisions because they flipped...never heard of a realize port flipping....not to say they can't but hmmm... I will be thinking of you! Good luck and be happy!

I’m sorry did I say that carbs caused GERD? My intent was to say sleeve can cause eventual need for revision to RNY due to GERD. Carbs are a separate subject, that can cause issues with the weight weight loss phase and usually healthy carbs are for maintenance and after protein is eaten. And depends on the persons ability to process them. I’m sorry I won’t be responding to posts. I’m not very good at getting the correct message across, especially lately I’m just dealing with a lot of issues with my chronic illness. I’m not sure why it’s offensive though to discuss a strict low carb way of eating, that is beneficial for some people. Not all people process carbs very well. But it does come down to individual needs. And I’m not pushing low carb with my comment. Just saying that carbs if any comes with maintenance. And if someone has GERD it’s usually An issue after sleeve surgery. Sorry I’m stepping away now from commenting further on anymore posts since for some reason I offended you.

if you read enough posts it seems that the rate of loss is a little slower after revision I’m currently 2 yrs post revision from VSG to RNY (for GERD not regain) and for me I have been able to maintain the same weight I was with VSG but I’m now GERD free. Initially I lost a little but since I was already at goal my surgeon wanted me to maintain not lose so I ate whatever I wanted for a short period of time. Then went back to normal (post bari lifestyle of moderation and overall food changes/substitution) Knowing what I now know, I think revisioners should consider asking their surgeons: 1. No GERD but substantial regain- Should I consider VSG to DS/SIPS for greater weightloss? 2. GERD and substantial regain- Should I convert from VSG to RNY with a longer bypass? 3. GERD but no regain- Should I convert from VSG to RNY with a slightly shorter bypass to prevent excess loss? Good Luck ❤️

I am a band to sleeve revision. Got my sleeve almost 3 1/2 yrs ago....never really lost what I gained back and am sure I have stretched my stomach since then. I really want to get my restriction back and get this 30 back off. Can it be done? Any suggestions? Words of encouragement?

My maximum weight was 303 lbs. I am currently 133lbs. I got my gastric by pass on May 7th 2019 in Pennsylvania. Since then I have had so many issues and I do not know where to turn to anymore. I feel the dr and I have gone through every option there is to go through and it is still not enough. Immediately after surgery I was having issues with eating. I followed all the rules took all the vitamins and meds I was supposed to. Still could not keep food down. I ended up having to take my gallbladder out in Oct of 2019. I was with a horrible person and she left me because of my issues with my stomach. I moved back to my home town of Peoria Il. I had to go on a search to find a new Dr. that would take me as a patient. I found this to be a rather horrible task as some Drs do not like to do that because they don't know all that the previous Dr did with the surgery. I finally found one and he is a great Dr. He has kept me alive. After the gallbladder surg. I was still having issues with keeping food down. This started in February 2020. The only thing i could tolerate was broth. At this point I had to take all my meds in a liquid form. Finally The dr. sent me to a gastrologist for an endoscopy. It was shown that I had some scar tissue covering the entrance to my stomach so they did a dilation. There was also an ulcer found. I was put on 2 diff acid reducing meds to get rid of it along with nausea meds. To prevent a tear they had to do this several times. I had dropped down to 118lbs. very malnourished. My health was becoming a huge concern. One of the times that they went in to dilate the Dr ended up putting a hole in my intestine. I had to have an emergency surgery for repair. I spent 2 weeks in the hosp. When I woke up in recovery i had a wound vac, drains and a feeding tube. i went home with the feeding tube. This is now Sept 2020. My new Gastric bypass dr was trying to get me healthy enough to do a revision to help me tolerate food. I had a revision scheduled for Dec. 2020. Since this was during covid I had to be tested before surgery. Yes I tested positive. The surgery was postponed until Feb. Finally i had my surgery and was hoping that this was going to be the last and all would be good. The feeding tube was removed and I had to start over from scratch with eating. Clear liquid on up. At this point I am weak and thinking the worst that it is all over for me. I kept up the fight and it kept kicking me back. I was able to eat a little better for a few months after surgery. Then it all started over again. Every time I tried to eat i threw up. I called the dr. He said probably more scar tissue and that meant more dilation like before. So that was the plan more endoscopies. There was also another ulcer found. Upped the intake of the acid reducers and still not going away. I just kept dealing with this and eating what I could. I put up with this for a long time. Then in Oct. of 2022 it got really bad again. I was in and out of the ER for pain so many times I lost track. The dr. went in to check things out and the ulcer was back. There was no Rhyme or reason for this to keep coming back. I was referred to a Thoracic Surgeon in 2023. I finally was able to get in to see him. He scheduled me for a surgery to have my vagus nerve removed. (vagus nerves produce the acid in our stomach and mine was producing to much there fore causing the ulcer to never heal. When i came home I was still not able to eat food it made me sick. I wasn't in anymore pain but still could not tolerate food except for soft foods. Then it would be next to nothing. Somedays i could eat a bit more than others. I was released to go back to work on 4*12*24. I have been to the er once again for pain and not keeping food down. I was given a gi cocktail and felt better. I called the Dr and was told when it hurts drink Mylanta. I am now to the present day and have no answers. Please tell me there is solution for this. I cannot do this forever. I don't wish this on anyone but I hope someone else has been through this and can help.

I don't see how or why a band would ever be offered when the RNY is one of the best surgeries available...? A band is old technology with known complications.. I have heard that the bypass can be revised by overstitch to tighten the pouch up if needed... I don't know what the band will do to help if the bypass didn't do it already...

Like Vines, I figured 125 was ridiculous, so I chose 150 - but the last time I hit 200 I looked all right, so I may need to revise upward to 175.

Hi love! What part of CA do you live in?? I live in SoCal/OC. I'm having some of the same symptoms & my doctor aborted my surgery because he said mine was the worse he's ever seen! I HAVE to have this surgery because I have scoliosis and have to have a revision surgery on my neck & back because my entire left side is now in pain....the pain is shooing down my left side of my body & causing my sciatic nerves to hurt me as well...the doctor is afraid if I don't have the surgery, I'll get bigger & bigger & will not be able to walk ... the problem??? NOone will touch me with my condition!!! ANY advice?? I'm DESPERATE!!! 😩😩

I have lived with a lap band for 7 years or so and just had it changed for a sleeve. My surgeon is very pro sleeve and was glad to revise my surgery. I picked a vsg because you can make healthy food decisions and the malabsorption isn't as big a deal as an RNY. My doctor said the sleeve is the best tool he's ever had in wls. Most if the staff in his office have had it and they are all thrilled.

I am having my band out/revision to sleeve on the 17...day after you. I hope you feel better way before than! Why did your doc choose to do 2 separate operations? How long was your band in? Mine is only 15 months old so maybe its a scar tissue thing if yours was in longer? In any event, you are 1/2 way home! Go you!

I have had a band for 2 years and lost weight as expected. Unfortunately for me.. I had a prolapse. I got the flu so bad and was throwing up so hard my band prolapsed. I am opting for the sleeve and will have it on 2-24-15. The only reason I'm not doing full bypass is that my husbands first wife died after her surgery. ( before anyone jumps on a band wagon, let me say her death could have been prevented. She was not going for her Vitamin B shots. This caused here to have a deficiency, which in turn lead to a massive heart attack) she had reached her goal and my guess is that she thought she was doing okay.. Just goes to show how important follow up visits are. Anyway, needless to say my husband is scared to death for me to have surgery.. However, I'm scared not to as obesity is a killer within itself. Good luck to you and I will share my revision experience when I can. ????

Hi there. Just wanted to chime in on your post. I am having my lap band removed and revised to RNY with Dr. Turnquest on 9/29/2014. He has an excellent reputation - every single person I've encountered (hospital registration desk, hospital ultrasound tech, outpatient surgery center nurses x4, ob/gyn, psychologist for consult) each person has RAVED about this guy. I have never had so many people be so complimentary of a doctor before - ever. He gave you that advice for a reason. The surgeon that did my lap band (Richard Wilkenfeld - Conroe/True Results) closed his office a few weeks ago - I don't think that's a coincidence. I think that overwhelmingly people are having their bands removed - many for complications, many for not losing weight. For me, it's both - minimal weight loss, slipped band and acid reflux. (And both the ultrasound tech and outpatient surgical nurse also had their's removed and revised by Dr. Turnquest - both to the sleeve.) Also, I test positive for the markers for lupus (foreign body effects your immune system). There are definitely people that are successful with the band and I congratulate each one of them. As time has passed, they have become (are continuing to become) the minority. Please seriously consider taking his advice on the lapband. Go to obesityhelp.com, and other sites. I felt like you did six years ago and chose the least invasive surgery, unfortunately, it was not the success I hoped. I regret not having researched it more thoroughly or having the information about it that we now have. Best of luck to you.

Thank you for the reply, I'm sorry to hear that your insurance company wouldn't cover your surgery. My insurance company's issue is that since I was self pay, they have no way of knowing if my band was medically necessary. I was 277 lbs at the time with a 40 BMI and sleep apnea. I would have qualified if I had gone through insurance but I didn't have to because I had the funds to pay cash due to an inheritance. The insurance company says if the surgery wasn't medically necessary that they would consider it to be cosmetic and they do not cover complications from cosmetic surgery even if those complications are life-threatening. So as it turns out, I may have to prove medical necessity for a surgery that I had five years ago in order to get it reversed and then quite possibly, have to reprove medical necessity to get the revision to the sleeve. They're making me crazy!!!!!!

Wow, I hope for your sake you are pre-op! If you are post-op, you are setting yourself up for major problems. You really need to follow this "diet" to a T until your stomach heals. There is a reason for the liquid diets. I am so fortunate in that my husband was so supportive of me when I was banded and he would never have let me deviate from my post-op instructions. I am counting on him being this supportive this time with the revision too. In any event, what is done, is done. Starting right now, just follow your doctors advice and hopefully you will be fine.

Being that I'm on the last legs of my lap band I have to say the lap band was not the right choice for me. I chose the wrong procedure unfortunately but choose not to revise to any other WLS and am having it removed tomorrow afternoon :tongue: Best of luck and health to the rest of you and I hope you don't have the same problems I have had, Nancy.:tongue:

Congratulations! That is awesome - nice job!!! No wondering "if" here!! Can't wait for my revision. July (or august) can't come soon enough! Sent from my SM-G900V using the BariatricPal App

I was banded two years ago and lost very little weight. Over time, I even gained 30 pounds with the band. Needless to say, I felt the surgery was a complete waste of time and money for me. I know many people have been successful, but I wasn't one of them. I revised to the DS this past June, and have been thrilled with the results. (I too had a lot of scar tissue from the band.) Revising to the DS was the best decision I've made for my health. Don't feel like a failure. The band just doesn't work for some people. I had about 8 fills and never felt a restriction.

I love what I see and how I feel now but I struggle with not meeting my goal!?! I had revision from band to sleeve on 1/28/24 I started out at 287 and I'm now at 193. I'm 5'9 and still curvy but LOVING it ????. I fuss with myself about not getting to MY goal which is 180 and my surgeon wants to see me at 160 ???? I feel like I would look like...pardon the phrase...a Crack head!!! ???? Anyone else struggle with this? Do I lose the weight and then feel uncomfortable in my own skin again? Do I do it for my health let's be honest I'm still overweight but beautifully so ????. Anyone else struggle with this????

Also noticed that I have some loose skin above my nipple in the lower breast... Not happy at all about that : ( I called the surgeons nurse and she said to give it time to see if it fills out once they drop and if they both are the same if not I may need a revision and another lift on that side. I told her I have no more money!!! She said, "oh honey, don't worry! The Dr. won't be charging you" that was such a relief! I still hope everything corrects itself, I don't want another surgery!

YES! I have a co worker having a revision with another doc in town. Her pre and post are totally different than mine. I miss coffee but it was a small sacrifice for a second chance. When you get to the other side just follow the guidelines. Be well!

Just starting my journey #2. Had Lapband in 2009. Not working for me anymore. Now planning on doing revision and either Sleeve or Bypass. How did you make up your mind on which to have?? Plus my surgeon wants to take out the lapband before surgery to see If esophagus is good. Upper GI done 2 months after. Highest weight before lapband 309. Today 297. BMI 51. HBP, sleep apnea, sciatica, upper/lower back problems. Lost a lot in beginning then had back problems and slowly gained weight back. Just saw the psychologist today. Nutrition counselor is set for April 10. Worrying about if insurance will cover both surgeries. Removal and sleeve or Bypass.??? Won’t know until after lapband removal if they will cover the sleeve or Bypass. I joined all the support groups but just want to know how you decided with Bypass compared to Sleeve!!??

I am having revision from LapBand to RNY on Tuesday 2/27. So close! Starting wt. 314, current 293. Doing a liquid preop diet. Good luck and healing prayers to you all.

My revision date is tentatively set for 12/5

Hi, I'm new to this forum. I was banded in April of 2008 & after 14 fills I lost 75 lbs. I got to where I was able to eat more & more & I started gaining weight back. It was like I didn't even have weight loss surgery cause I was following the same pattern I did before the band. Recently I started having stomach pains & gerd.When I finally went to my Dr. he had an endoscopy done & found I had prolasped & my esophigus was inflamed so he did a biopsy. My wife & I met with him on Monday & he said the biopsy came back OK but we needed to select one of the 4 options he had for me. 1. He could empty the band & allow the stomah to go back in place & bigin fills again, 2. Remove the band & return to original stomach, 3.replace the band, 4. remove the band & revise to a sleeve or gastric bypass. We all agreed that the gastric sleeve would be the best option. I need to get another phyc. eval. & apply for approval from my insc. again. I'm feeling good about this because after this surgery I don't have to keep going back for fills & worrying about prolapsing again. This is where I'm at right now.

Congrats John! That's exciting news!! I'm finally ditching my band after 10 years in May!! I had prolapse issues twice. I chose to unfill and refill once, but once it happened again, I decided I was done. I haven't had much success at all since replacing my band in 2006. I think you made a wonderful choice. The reality is, you would likely end up anyway, as prolapse generally becomes a repetitive problem!! Have you discussed a surgery date yet?! There are quite a few band to sleeve revisions around here and I have yet to hear one person say they didn't have more success and feel better after revising!!