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My doctor suggested 160 which I thought was WAY too high, but I think he was just being very conservative, Then I arbirarily put my own goal at 150, but by the time I got down there I realized I could get into the 40's pretty easily so I revised it to 140. Figured I didn't have a snowball's chance of getting any lower because of my age, but I was wrong. I don't want to get ANY lower than I am right now (135-137) because things are starting to droop. You gotta take into consideration your height and age.

I am have my band to sleeve revision on Aug 15 th I need a buddy. I will traveling alone. Dr Lopez and Osuna

Congrats on being sleeved and it sounds like you are beginning to feel pretty good. Glad your revision went well and was a success! Kelly

My band is great and has changed my life..... It has helped me become who I really am. I was a whole different person attitude-wise before my wonderful new best friend LB (Lapband) and I met. Now me and LB make a great team and forces me to stop eating, I am a food addict and LB has changed my life for the better. I feel better and I feel better about myself, I have self-esteem now that was absent before. I am so much happer after LB has helped me lose 140 pounds. I even had a slip and had to have revision surgery and did not even think twice about having it replaced. I want to encoarage anyone who is first at an unhealthy weight like I was or just totally miserable with themselves to consider getting it done. The Lord has blessed me to have it done and I am very thankful. I could talk all night about all the little things that have gotten better in my life but I don't have time to list them here and you all would be asleep before I finished. So yes, I am a huge band fan!

Update: November 8th, 2012 - this morning weighed in at 204, down 17 since I posted on 9/7 - I may need to revise my goal! I absolutely need to move more - that is a big goal for 2013 for me and my famly. Keep going strong gang - even if we stall those losses pick back up again if we stay the course

Okay, so I think that alot of what is said here is based on general info that one reads on forums. I have had 4 local plastic surgeon consults and two email consults (Mexico) so have actually discussed all of this with plastic surgeons about MY situation including how long you should wait. I think it is easy to make remarks like this below if you have not been educated on this directly by actual experts. Plastic surgery is a big deal because you are under anesthesia (all surgeries have a risk) BUT the incident of death and serious complications are low. They are not near internal organs, the main issues that can happen are "wound healing related". I think most would consider it less dangerous/sever then weight loss surgery. But yes, it hurts and requires more pain meds then most of us needed post sleeve. The bounce back of the skin might apply to people who have less excess skin. If someone who is pretty good waits 18 months, they will see some skin reabsorption and might in fact decide they don't need procedure "X". However, lets do some quick math shall we. I weigh about 155 pounds. My highest weight (in 2005 was 332). I spent alot of years in the 250-300# range. I spent pretty much my whole life either overweight or obese - I am 49 and I would say less then 8 years of that was I normal weight. I did alot of weight bouncing over the decades losing and regaining the 25-85 pound range. I had a baby some 21 years ago. I have extra skin. I have skin for 2 + women. I can do one gazillion situps and still have stomach skin. The skin under my arms, and around my breast is so stretched the docs have urged caution even about implants and that my skin can't support any weight - the skin is STRETCHED. So, even if waiting 18 months post goal weight (I am 18 months post sleeve) caused me to reabsorb 5-10% of my extra skin it would make a negligible difference. I will need the same procedures I need now and get the same results. I personally have no reason to wait any longer. For some people, docs will do procedures even while a very heavy person is still a ways from goal; knowing they may need revision later. Why? Well, I didn't go that route, but let me tell you it is discouraging to be able to see my ribs on my chest and back and yet have a "big belly" that is basically all skin. They do it to help people get to the goal of looking normal. It took me awhile to accept my body as not still being fat - extra skin looks alot like fat. So Fiddleman I know you didn't mean this as a criticism of me personally, but I am a little defensive because I feel like people at times imply that if I just worked harder or was more patient I could wish away my extra skin and it just doesn't work that way. I too was FREAKED OUT by the surgery photos. When I went to my second consult and the surgeon brought up the topic of the lower body lift (I thought I just needed a tummy tuck) I nearly vomited. the very idea of the LBL sent me around the bend. It took me a solid 4 months of looking at photos and talking to PS patients to get over the freak out mode. I have a much more rational view about it all, I want the best results I can get. I know that the recovery from the LBL isn't that much harder then the TT and the difference in the results is so worth it. In my case, the LBL will make it so I don't need to have anything done on my butt for example. It will make a huge difference in my thighs too. What I am most disappointed/discouraged about is that one of my key problem areas is under my arms/braline. I wear bras that are too big in the band to keep that skin from spilling over all ugly. The only solution to that one is an upper body lift and I am not sure I am willing to go that far. I love wearing fitted clothing and it is a disappointment to me that I will still have a significant problem area...

I am from Memphis and I am having surgery in Mexico with Dr. Ortiz. I had Gastric Bypass surgery in 2000 and experienced a staple line disruption in 2002, I have since been healing from that issue. I have gained back 100 lbs. My surgery is scheduled for 8/10/2006. Dr. Ortiz was one of the only surgeons I could find that would do a revision self-pay that had any experience with band over bypass. I hear that dr. Houston in Nashville will do fills on Mexico patients if needed. Does anyone have any more information on that? Terry B Memphis

Thanks to everyone. Allison, my plastic surgeon is Dr. Robert Dennis (DC). Chrissy, I've never had any issues with my band. Early on I would feel some port discomfort, however, that I chalked up to muscle pain in this area due to working out coupled with the tummy tuck healing. I've not felt any discomfort or had any issues that required me to have revisions to the band.

Thx Mildge, Sorry to hear about your difficulties:sad: Hope your surgery goes well, maybe they can do a revision or something?? Thankfully, the pain resolved itself in about two days, we were doing alot of yardwork, building a patio, a lot of heavy lifting, so I think I just strained the muscles that my port is attached to. No pain since. Sending good thoughts your way, hope it all works out for you:blush:

Nicole, I am just starting my journey (that sounds cheesy when I write it, doesn't it?), but I feel for you. I believe there are a few posters around who had to revise to something else, after having an erosion. Maybe taking a look around the complications forum found here: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/forum/70-lap-band-complications/ Good luck!

Nicole, I'm so sorry you had to go through that. Please don't beat yourself up over regaining weight. I had to say goodbye to my band 3 weeks ago and I've regained also. My band was removed because of a congenital problem with my esophagus that contraindicates the gastric band, so eventually (when my esophagus is sorted out) I hope to revise to the sleeve. People often say that the band is the least invasive of bariatric surgeries, but let's face it. Any surgery that requires the patient to be anesthetized while a surgeon cuts holes in their abdomen, pokes instruments into those holes, and implants a medical device, is pretty invasive. People also say that the band is good because it's removable. Well, that's true, but it doesn't mean that removing it is easy and safe. RNY is reversible, if need be, but that doesn't mean it's easy or safe. So I guess you have to choose the lesser of the evils. I think we'd all like to say we can lose and maintain our weight on our own, but if we had a big enough problem that we qualified for weight loss surgery, it's not likely that another attempt to do it "on your own" is going to work longterm. On the other hand, presumably you've acquired some healthier habits since being banded, and can rely on those now, at least until you're healed and ready to consider a different surgery. Good luck!

I thought most surgeons usually started off with the revisions first?

revision from lapband to bypass for dec 9th. I'm excited about to start my 2 week pre op

Hello my Dec pals. I just got home from the revision. It wasn't bad but the gas was/is unreal. It's like carrying knives inside me juggling around. They took out drain, almost fainted, horrible feeling unraveling out of my belly. I continue to pray 4 the rest of you and upcoming and those of us who's done. Glad it's over:)

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?

Medicare will pay for it as long as you meet the criteria. I think it was over 35 BMI with a comorbidity. There was a three month "supervised" diet (during which you don't have to lose weight), and documentation of past failures with diet alone. You must be obese for 5 years, and have a psych evaluation. I was nervous because I had been told by another office that Medicare wouldn't pay for revision surgery (failed lap band) which was odd because Medicare hadn't paid for the first one. But they came through and my bill was paid.

Hi all I know we're all at different stages and we're all going to consume various foods but I am curious about calories! As a band to sleeve revision patient and now 6ish weeks out, I am getting those horrible 'OMG am I going to succeed? Is my sleeve tight and small enough? Am I eating way more than everyone else?' thoughts...... I've started tracking calories and I generally have around 800-1000 calories but I feel like it's quite easy to get up to 1000. At weeks 2-4 I struggled A LOT with foods and just didn't really have the drive to watch my food intake and protein. Now, I feel like my hunger is coming back and that freaks me out. No heartburn or anything, and I've had my 40 grams of Somac on a daily basis, but I KNOW I feel hunger. I just get in a bit of a negative headspace and worry that the sleeve won't be 'viable' for me. I am very determined, yet am at a stall. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to know what you guys typically eat in a day too! THANKS

I need to give a little back story here. My husband is 26 (will be 27 on Sunday), he's a great looking, attractive, naturally fit/lean guy. He's 6'0" and 165lbs dripping wet. He is currently deployed to Afghanistan and will be returning late September/early October (4 months after my post op revision). Ever since I told him I was moving forward with the revision surgery, his mentality has changed. He's working out, weightlifting to what I consider an extreme. He's bragged that he's "getting bigger" and I will be able to see a difference. I asked him "why are you working out?" He brushed it off that he was was just "passing the time". Now today, he has ordered a whey Protein supplement online from a bodybuilding website. He overpaid for what he is getting, and the email I sent, once the email confirmation came through, let him know that he overpaid for something I could of gotten here and shipped to him for less. I could care less about the money, or that he had ordered a supplement, just the fact that I asked him about that a couple weeks ago, he said he had no desire to "bulk up". My question is: Have any of ya'll experienced this with your husband/significant other? I almost feel like he is threatened by the fact that I will be losing weight. Kind of like he wants or feels the need to 'one up' me. We've never had jealousy/insecurity issues in our relationship/marriage. We've dealt with long distance relationship for over half of 3 years together. This is our 1st deployment as a married couple, I'm just really perplexed by all of this. He isn't the work out type. He hates working out when he is here. He has always loved me for me regardless of my pant size. He was and still is extremely supportive of my WLS decisions. He has mentioned a few times about me changing, but after the initial surgery back in October all of that was never mentioned again. We did talk about me sending him progress pictures. He decided that he wanted it to be a surprise. . . I just need to know if this is normal. I kind of feel like he is threatened by the thought of me losing weight. He knows that I get hit on now as a "hot fat chick". I feel like he is doubting me, or my fidelity, and he wants to make sure when he comes home that I am going to still want him, or even worse that he is the "better looking half". I may be overthinking all of this, but I can't shake this feeling that something other than "passing the time" is the driving force behind his 5-6 day a week working out/weightlifting. Thanks for any input. I appreciate it. . .

Congratulations to everyone that was approved. I have Aetna and was denied. the denial was uphelp in the first and second level appeal by Aetna. It was so stressful. The final appeal is an independent external review process. This is where the decision goes out to an independent doctor not associated with the insurance company who will decide based upon the information provided if the patient meets the standards published by NIH and other medical groups. Mine did and the decision by Aetna was overturned. The entire process took almost 10 months and was SO stressful. All of my appeals were done with the help of http://www.obesitylaw.com It cost me nothing and Kelley is the BEST !! She called me 2 days before I was going to Disney to tell me the good news. She even offered to give me passes to Disneyland that they use to take out the employees in the office each year. Unfortunately I was going to Disney World in FL so I couldn't use the passes. She was so nice I decided I would tell everyone who was having issues with approval about them. They provide an awesome service to people who could really use help. I believe her husband Walter had both Gastric bypass and a Lapband revision later on. Good Luck to anyone having to deal with Aetna.

Dee, revising from the band to the sleeve was the best thing I ever did! I have had so much more success and love it!

After the leak repair, my lungs would not recover. That landed me in ICU for 5 days, on a ventilator. I had the revision, then 2 days later the leak repair. Myself and my surgeon knew that I was higher risk because of my surgery being a revision, and my complications. However, I had zero other health risks, zero co-morbidities, nothing else was wrong with me. I had 3 leak tests. 1 in the OR, one the following day, and then the final one that was performed when the leak was found on my 2nd day post-op. I was in the hospital 10 days total. During the final leak test is when the leak was found, 2 hours before my discharge. I was up talking, walking, laughing, feeling good, no fever, no pain until I drank the contrast Fluid. I swallowed the gastrographin solution and had immediate pain radiate across my abdomen, they performed the ct scan and confirmed the leak. My surgeon does not oversew as there is a great debate on whether it stresses the staple line or not. Some of the most noted surgeons oversew, some don't. The reason for the cost is because of the ICU stay, the additional testing, and medications used, the additional doctors that came in on my case, the central line, the additional diagnostics performed. The reasons for my 2cent comments is because you stated that you were scared, that you didn't want to ruin the rest of your life because of this surgery, your concerns with complications especially since you are self-pay, you asked for advice and what our concerns were so I answered honestly and openly. If I were in your situation, I stated what my concerns would be. I wasn't trying to be negative, I was telling you my honest opinion. It isn't always the thing people want to hear, but it's what I thought I could offer. If you are at peace with your decision, and trust your surgeon, then I promise I have nothing but best wishes for you, for your surgery and journey.

I'm a band to sleever! I had my band removed and a sleeve with duodenal switch done on 12/26! So far I love it! I'd would be happy to chat! Katy W- Louisburg, NC Lapband revision to VSG with DS HW- 297 Weight at Surgery-279 CW- will update at two week appt

So tell me your story, The Good, The Bad, The Ugly! I am trying to gauge how the revisionistas are doing long term after the actual change over. My revision is scheduled on September 17th, which is exciting and nerve wracking at the same time. (A little Bandster history: Banded in 2007; Lost 127 Banded; Gained Back 107; issues started with hiatal hernia, etc., been struggling with fills ever since...always too tight or too loose.) I have never met or spoken with anyone who has the sleeve, so feel free to lend any advice and/or insight. Looking forward to hearing from you!

I too had a revision from a band to a sleeve. The only time I had pain afer the initial period, was a few times on my left side when I was working out. You are doing the right thing by letting your surgeon know. I definately would go to ER and best if it the ER where you had surgery at. ER physicians are not always well versed in our needs, but at least there you have a better chance that they are and they would also have access to your bariatric team. Good luck and hope you feel better soon.

Yeah, I kinda figured they'd time manage the patients better. But I guess things can change based on how folks medically stack out. There are a few here not in the best health today. I've all by electronic toys spread around me so I'm content. There is one girl who is shocking the other patients. She's thin. I thought she was here for plastics but nope sleeve. Although I heard revision but it's not band. She really looks great. The other patients are doing eye rolls but heck, we don't know her story. I didn't want to pry and ask so we've chatted about other things. Perhaps a bypass to sleeve revision? Is that even possible?