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There is a forum on revisions from band to sleeve and you might want to check that out. i got the band in February 2009 and revised to the sleeve on July 9. I lost about 60 pounds the first year of the band, then regained most of it. In the four weeks since my revision, I have lost about 30 pounds. I feel great, have more energy and am certain I will continue to lose weight. I am thrilled I made this decision. Hated the band; love the sleeve.

I had no official slippage on my band or erosion or anything else. It just sucks and I haven't lost weight. I was denied revision. now trying to figure out what to do. BCBS.

Hello there!! I'm not sure what part of DFW you live in, but I am going to Dr. David Kim. I haven't been banded as of yet, but I have been going to his Colleyville office for my supervised weight loss. My insurance (Cigna) requires 6 months of a doctor supervised weight loss attempt/education. Dr. Kim is very experienced in performing WLS. When I went for my consultation, he really listened to me regarding the surgery I wanted. His staff is very helpful and educated. I think he has performed WLS surgery on a few of the ladies in his office. I also went and looked up everything I could about him and his practice. Everything I found was extremely favorable. A co-worker, of my husband, is getting ready to contact Dr. Kim regarding surgery revision. He had surgery with another doctor and has had some issues. He also heard great things about Dr. Kim. Dr. Kim is very realistic and doesn't make you think you will be skinny as soon as you wake up from surgery. He and his staff try to ensure the patients understand the band as a tool. I don't know who you will ultimately pick, but I hope this helps. Good Luck to you!

Have you already had your band removed, or are they doing the removal and revision at the same time? I am having my band removed and sleeve revision in one surgery (that's the plan anyway!) Aiming for the end of July! Good luck!! Sent from my SM-G900V using the BariatricPal App I had my band removed in 2013! I had a terrible slip and was very very sick! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I had band to sleeve revision one week ago today. A few people at work that I'm close to only know I had the band out. Only my two closest friends at work know the whole story. Eventually I might tell more people at work but I just didn't want their opinions and close scrutiny. Many that I work with are young and very very healthy and have no idea what I've struggled with my whole life and I don't think they'd even understand. Besides all that I don't want them to worry

Feeling scared is normal. Just stick to all the surgeon's rules they are to protect you from complications. There is a risk associated with surgery/having the sleeve but the majority of people don't have problems. I'm about to revise to the sleeve from the band. I had problems with the band but I don't regret having that surgery the 60 pounds I lost improved my health and life in ways that make it worth facing the risks associated with surgery. If anything I wish I had just gotten the sleeve in the first place. I was feeling scared before I started the preop diet for the sleeve 2 weeks ago and started using this CBT for weightloss workbook that was really helpful. They recommend doing an excercise where you compare the cost/benefits in the short and long term of losing weight via surgery versus staying the same. They they say to rate what you list from 0 to 100 by how important the item is to you. After I did I realised there are more costs to staying the same then having surgery even when facing potential complications. Also, all the things I really value are long term benefits of having surgery. It made me feel more confident in my decision because I know that doing the surgery is the best way for me to obtain certain things in life that are extremely important to me.

Hi, I am 2 yrs out I have not been successful with ,y weight loss goals, I considered going back for a revision, but I wanted to see if i could jump start my weight loss without the revision any suggestions?

same here, band removed revised to a sleeve 12/10. not even a week out for me yet. after i failed to lose anything with the band (and being hungry most of the time) i felt like i was a failure. i decided to try the sleeve but also worried i'd be a failure at that. well, i have done it. i feel ok about the prospects for weight loss.

I saw some great responses. I agree it is possible to get the same results with no surgery. I definitely considered going the no revision route by just dieting correctly. Surgery doesn't make you lose weight. Your body loses weight if you eat healthy food with fewer calories. Problem is, we've failed at some point so any advantage you can get is a good thing. For me, the out of pocket cost of the surgery $5k isn't a factor since I eat meals at home or pack lunches now instead of take out. I'm eating less and the surgery pays for itself. The health benefits I can expect getting out of the Obesity class are worth it. If I can get off high blood pressure medication, avoid getting diabetes or needing a hip replacement, that's life changing. I'm 48 years old. I tell people I'm doing this to add years to my 70s.

Had the band for 8 months, it was nothing short of h*ll. I revised because my port flipped, and then caused the tubing to tug on my stomach. I was in chronic pain on a daily basis. That doesn't include all of the puking, food getting stuck, and slow weight loss. It's just bad news, and I don't miss my band at all. I'm elated with my life with the sleeve.

I got my lapband in 2012 and got down to 206 from a high of 293. When I complained about my horrendous reflux the doctor took the fluid out of the band. The reflux eased up but I put on 50 pounds very quickly. I am in the process of qualifying for revision surgery. Federal BCBS requires the whole program again to qualify for the revision to bypass. In my case the revision is totally considered bariatric surgery.

I can't answer a whole lot of "post op" questions, as I haven't had my surgery yet, but from my research and reading these boards, the risk of leaks is only for a couple weaks but can happen a bit later. And some leaks can go undetected even for months and so then there you are 3 months later and think you just had a leak when it was actually there way earlier. I believe the stomach tissue grows over the staple line and makes it that much stronger. I am going to Mexico with Dr. Aceves and his required hospital stay is 3 days. There are usually much shorter stays (some go home the next day!) in the states for various reasons. His 3 day stay is included in the price. I am thankful for the longer stay. There is a whole section on here for band to sleeve revision. I know Tiffykins had one and she has a great wealth of knowledge on the subject. Good luck to you! I am getting sleeved March 9th, so we will be starting out together!

Hi everyone, I'm being sleeved (revision from failed band) on the 18th, at Lutheran General, I'm on day 4 of pre op diet, my head is killlllling me and I'm so tired (carb withdrawl) I hope that I am happy with the sleeve, the band was a nightmare. How are u all doing?

My port flipped about 6mnths after my intial surgery n Jan 2010. My surgeon would flip it manually. My surgeon left, and I got a new surgeon who did port revision surgery--he flipped up and moved it to a more accessible area. I was unfilled for the surgery. Like another OP said, my weight loss slowed down some. Hope everything works out okay for you.

I realize that most people will probably gloss over this topic...because for most 1 surgery works and is enough and if you fall into this category, please know how fortunate you are. This is not my story I am 5'8. In 2007 I was 273lb's and miserable! I got a Band. Following 13 fills and unfills the best I lost was 60lb's, I never achieved restriction, and unfilled to have 2 kids. All weight returned. In an unrelated accident my port flipped, and in 2015 at 265lb's I was revised to a Gastric Sleeve (Also had my gallbladder taken out, a Haital hernia repaired and the band removed). I lost 60lb's in the first 4 months and then...stopped loosing. At 205lb's I would have been happy with my results, but then, I felt no restriction and started to regain! Fast forward almost 3 years to today...I have developed GERD pretty bad and I've regained most of what I lost back! My stomach feels hungry every hour or two, I could always eat WAY more than my sleeved friends, and once I got myself full, it would not take long for the deep primal hunger to return. I have no relief from hunger. Especially at night, I'm ravenous! I became a grazer! I felt that the Ghrelin was back with an Army to fight me! A 80% international traveling job plus unlimited access to food in the best restaurants around the globe did not help. I have felt dejected, humiliated, like a failure, angry, frustrated and the list goes on for miles, if you are still reading, you probably know how I feel. And indeed, It's not just about how I look...it's about how I feel. Horrible!! My weight is pressing, intrusive and pervasive. There is no time that I am not aware of it. I have sleep Apnea, I can't keep up with my 6 and 7 year old's and the simple things in life are hard again. Completely demoralizing... After almost 3 years, I finally said "Enough" and went back to a new Surgeon. An Endoscopy revealed it has not all been my fault. My Sleeve was cut too big to begin with! My new surgeon reveled he knows the work of the previous surgeon who apparently was not very skilled at the time and making sleeves too big to be successful. A Bougie 42 was was too big to begin with but in my case, even that was very loosely cut. To top it off, my Sleeve was mis-shapen to begin with as well, setting me up for failure and I have a Stricture in the middle, causing me to have an Hourglass shape. Top fills up, stretches, bottom is hungry, then food goes to the bottom and is still there, top is hungry, in short...a hot mess! Miraculously given the Haital Hernia, GERD, Stricture and botched initial surgery, my insurance (that does not cover Bariatrics) has approved a revision to Bypass on Aug 22nd. I've been combing the internet for Sleeve to RNY revision but such information is not as readily available as 1st timers. I am so nervous...so frightened to go through with this. Scared of Anesthesia, scared how I would do, scared of the 3 week post op liquid only phase. Scared that I will fail again, that this will not work. Some Surgeons (like the Pound of Cure guy say you can only expect to loose 10 - 25lbs on a Sleeve to RNY revision, woa?? ) But I have to try...I want to live a full and vibrant life and not just exist like an Amoeba! This is truly Project last chance. My husband is supportive, but my friends, judgmental and not supportive. and if ever I needed some advice, encouragement, support etc...it's now... Nervous but cautiously hopeful, and very much in need of your support... Ellie

Hi! I am in your same boat. My original bypass was 11 years ago, and I am having a revision on Tuesday. It is a much more risky surgery because less is known about modifying a previous bypass. My doc is making a smaller stomach pouch and POSSIBLY distallizing (moving the anastamosis between stomach and intestine) further down the line. He tells me that after this process I will likely lose 10-20% of the excess weight. We shall see! Surgery 11am Tuesday. I should add that I see a bariatric team and they are very particular about candidates for revision; I'm not sure I would trust a surgeon who is not specifically doing WLS to make a revision recommendation. The science/data is just not out there yet. So! Good luck! See a doc who knows what they're doing! Let me know if you have questions - I'm happy to update along the way.

1. What made you choose the Sleeve over the Lap Band? My surgeons office no longer does this type of surgery. Google band revisions. I had the sleeve because it was less invasive. My intestines are not altered. 2. Have you had Hair loss with the Sleeve? Yes, its typical and temporary. It will grow back. 3. What can you absolutely NOT eat now with the Sleeve? I can tolerate anything. Sweet, salty, Spicy. To be successful it's healthy eating and behaviors. I choose and enjoy eatting healthy. 4. At what point did you know you made the right decision with the Sleeve surgery? The moment I chose it was the right decision. It's been successful long term. 5. What as been the best tool you've used in keeping your weight loss progressing?. Keeping my weight loss progressing/maintaining has been staying on my Dr's food and exercise plan. Best thing that has assisted me was a food tracking app. It was eye opening to see how you fuel your body.

No, Mark. But there are some VBG (the older non-adjustable gastric band) conversion patients, but I don't know if they converted to the Swedish band. (And there is a Cousin band in Belgium, right?) All the different international band names can be a bit confusing. Hopefully some one will come here with better information. Meanwhile I would also check the ObesityHelp*com forum called "Revision" - I've seen quite a few former VBG patients there. Good Luck. ("Bumping Up" this thread so others will see it.)

Well I have just found out that I have been approved for a revision! I have had the Lap band for 2yrs now with little to no results, but I have managed to have bad acid reflux and a lot of getting stuck days! So, my question today is has anyone out there had to have the revision and how has it worked for you? I must a admit I'm afraid to do this again and not have any results and be stuck like this!

i absolutley cannot vomit with my band -- food gets stuck and i litterally have to force it out... sometimes to the point where i broke all the blood vessels in my face and it looksliek i just gave birth again.... LAP-BAND® 9/2005 02/06 - slip 03/06 - re band throught the past 5 years I have STRUGGLED and the ONLY time i lost weight was when the bad was so tight I barely could drink Water. One day I would be able to eat yogurt, the next day it would get stuck -- it was this way constantly and Id never know what i coul or couldnt eat unless i tried - so in teh end I have a band with 1/2 fill so i can eat normally but it defeats the purpose of even having TWO surgeries because here I am weighig in 10lbs les then my 1st surgery and 10 more then my second.... Just went to the Dr. yesterday and he suggested I look into the bypass revision. He made it sound really good but he also didnt leave out the fact that because it is a revision - the risks are automatically higher for compications. I sit here wondering if my body had this many compications with a simple band who will ti react to a bypass? Maybe I will do great with bypass and i will finally see results Ive been striving to see forever what is I am the 15% that thigs go drastically wrong My job now covers this revision - if I waitr health care might change ................................... I too dont know what to do! Complications? What kind of complications? Like is its "dumbing" more often.. k I can handle that.. If its leakge... that can cause death.. IDK I wish I could survey 100 ppl who had this themself!

I did not have a good experience with the Realize band.....I just had revision surgery, he took out the band and did the gastric bypass....I told my doc that if he did not do the revision i might not come back for the bypass....so he did it all in one four hour surgery!

I never had to go through all of this because I was private pay for my lap and and then my revision was done as an emergency surgery (so it wasn't planned) but I did work for an insurance company and while they all have their own rules and guidelines but the surgeons know the criteria. Just go with it and do everything they tell you. I can also tell you if you are denied go through their appeal process because a lot of times it gets approved the second time around. I may wish I had gone through all the hoops as I now have about 60,00.00 in medical bills from the revision and insurance hasn't paid any of them.....YIKES!!!

It depends on two things: first, what your health plan's guidelines are for revision from band to sleeve (they all differ). And second, each surgeon may have requirements of their own for revisions. Call your health plan and ask for a copy of their guidelines for revision of bariatric surgery. Good luck!

Yes, you are definitely working yourself up lol If you know it's the right thing for you, don't psych yourself out. I am one of the very unlucky ones that has to have a revision. I never had gerd or reflux before my surgery, so I chose the sleeve. I have LOVED my sleeve. Unfortunately, it caused horrible gerd that also caused gastritis and esophagitis, so I was put on 80mg of Nexium. I've been on it for 7 months now, and it caused polyps all through my stomach. I've had 2 surgeries to remove them, and now nodules all through my duodenum, which also have to be removed. Once they are, I'll be cleared to have my revision to bypass. I'm told that should take care of the gerd, which will allow me to get off the Nexium, which will stop the formation of polyps and nodules. I still don't regret my sleeve. I've lost over 110 pounds, gotten off all 3 of my diabetes meds, gotten off my blood pressure med, my mobility is way way better, I work out 5 days per week, all my labs have come back normal repeatedly, I can honestly say it's still the best thing I've ever done, even with the complications.

Marfar -- I'm wondering if you're hitting all of your basic goals at this point, and if adjusting to that first might produce the results you want. I've watched your posts for a while now, and I've seen you say you revised to the sleeve to be able to eat what you want and not feel like you're on a diet. I also know you eat out a fair bit (based on your posts), and I'm just wondering if these months out you're still tracking calories and macronutrients. My family eats out a fair amount, and those restaurant calories are so sneaky! Perhaps add back some shakes to ensure Protein goals are being met, and become more restrictive on calories and carbs until you're losing again.