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I just had my revision on May 6th. With the band it starting thinning at about 4 or 5 months. It never thickened back up and now with the sleeve im nervous about losing more. I tried everything when it started to fall out with the band but nothing worked, shampoos, biotin, etc... I am now trying cologen. No one noticed mine except me and my imediate family because it didnt fall out of the top but i am really worried. Double wammy!

I can't speak from experience but rather some serious thought and self analysis as to this growing concern that eventually this restriction will be less than it currently is and the root of what the real problem is. First my thoughts are that we did this for the basic tenet to feel better...we did a physical act to feel better eventually look better too. With that said it's just like a new car, new blouse the newness wears off and the norm becomes the realization that we needed to work on our emotional journey as well. It's very easy to have done the emotional change at first bc we had the physical manifestation occur...we just did not address or work on the emotional which trust me if it could be fixed with a few sutures and a trip to Mexico we would all be living there perminantly. We certainly did not get to where we are because there is not an underlying problem....that problem is emotions. We have an emotional problem with food and once that is addressed and sutured in our own way then we can succeed long term. To have done this extreme and eat chips, bread, heavy carbs is not acceptable. My plan of attack for now is simple....I want the body of an athlete therefore I need the mentality ofmone too I will fill up fast with heavy Proteins no carbs so that temptation doesn't have time to catch up because I'll be too full. Secondly I'm excited to be exercising this coming week...and I don't mean elliptical I mean climbing flights of stairs and eventually kicking ass in cross fit. Treating my body as if it's still obese...mediocrity is not an option. I also dream a lot which helps my emotional state...I day dream every moment I see a cupcake...long detailed daydreams and then end it with "nothing tastes as good as skinny feels".... sorry for my rant but I just want everyone to be happy with this plication I worry about the lack of restriction too.I can't believe I did this and think there is an opportunity to fail....but that failure is up to me and I've never failed at anything I've passionately wanted....and anytime I've fallen off the wagon i pick myself up dust myself off and get back on the saddle...it's a forever journey and I'm going to make sure this horse I'm riding is mentally prepared for the long haul.... Good luck everyone....also I had read this on dr. Talebpours site before selecting plication google his site it's really interesting as the pioneer of this surgery. CONTRAINDICATION OF TVGP Morbid obese cases without any cooperation or any acceptance of limitation of intake are bad candidates for restrictive operations like plication. If I use plication in these cases a moderate rate of weight loss may occurs at first, but due to high intake of foods after that time, regain appears again. The selected technique for moderate cooperating patients is gastric bypass (cut of stomach, making malabsorption by using long limb gastrojejunostomy anasthomosis) with higher risk of complication. Aggressive technique advise for low cooperating patient. In patients without any cooperating, any acceptance of food restriction (enjoy of eating), if would like to have normal weight, just malabsorptive methods like duodenal switching or modified ileojejunal bypass is advised.

I'm Feb 16th too, band to sleeve revision, in New Orleans.

I am so glad to hear you are doing well [emoji171] A revision scares me but when I talk to others it makes me feel like if I need one I will be ok. 🥰 How often did you get heartburn, or reflux? I seem to have it everyday. Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi new here had reverse op band to bypass 10th june havnt lost weight stuck at 16.3 before band broke 12.7 so upset any advice any one this happend too ? Sent from my SM-G960F using BariatricPal mobile app

I had the Gastric Bypass and was off work for 2 weeks. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using the BariatricPal App

Yeah I do have extra skin but it’s easy to hide under clothes. Maybe someday I will get the extra skin removed. i am still actually losing weight… I haven’t stabilized yet. My goal weight was 195 but I just kept losing. My intake that I can do seems to be more in line with the limited quantities of bypass patients rather than sleeve. But everyone is different, so who knows. i am told it is impossible to lose “too much” and that the weight loss will eventually Peter off and stop. I revised my goal weight down to 165 pounds which would put me at ten pounds more to go. the way my body seems to work is I stall for a long time, then drop a ton of weight quickly (ten pounds) …. Then stall again for a while… then drop more…. i have sensitive skin and the excess skin does cause rashes to occur. I get them under my breasts, in my midline area by my belly button and with the skin overhang in the pelvic region. They say that if you have documented skin conditions like I do then they will take care of the extra skin… but it’s recommended to wait a couple years. I think it also has to be overhanging by a certain amount. (I think I remember my pcp saying it has to hang lower than the pelvis bone)

As I retired nurse I have heard a lot about duodenal switch being done in European countries for years before it was done here. It is much, much safer as it doesn't mess with the intestinies, but still is major surgery. Sue, if you had the choice at the beginning would you have chose DS over the band. I can see that the DS revision is not going to require the constant and unending fills and work that the band does, so in your honest opinion what would you have chosen, and did your esophageal problems exsist before banding or did it come along with the banding and continue to get worse. I've heart this to be true with lots of people. They never had esophageal problems before. I'm so glad you switched over and are doing well. I think Gastric Bypass will become a thing of the past with DS on the horizon. Best of everything to you. Sounds like you have been through a lot. Hugs Dody

My surgeon had only done 40 bands when I got banded and I had posted this same question. I heard from quite a few people who were banded by newbie band surgeons and none of them had any problems. I'm four months out and so far am very happy with my decision. LAP Band surgery is a much easier sugery for these surgeons than almost any other laproscopic surgery. One quote sticks in my mind by a girl whose surgeon told her "compared to the bypass, inserting a LAP Band is like clipping a toenail". That make me feel alot better. I'm sure you'll be fine!

Thank you! I am very excited to be only 5 lbs from my goal. Now my goal is not to gain anything over the weekend. That's my downfall. If I am around people eating bad things, I have no willpower. I am getting better, but it's so hard. I wish the junk food would get stuck and make me sick. My daughter had gastric bypass and if she eats anything that has too much fat in it or any sugar, she gets very sick. I think that would be a big help. I sorta ate junky today. Breakfast Kashi Crunch cereal. It's high in fiber and whole grain. I have to eat 1/2 cup before I work out with my trainer or I get dizzy. I put ground flax seed in it. Lunch- cashews from the dollar store 1/2 an Atkins bar Dinner will be half of a South Beach frozen meal, chicken and broccoli.

very cute....reminds me of the story, when my mom had bypass and lost lots of weight, my little niece who was potty training, got the potty ring out for my mom, since she now had a "little butt"

Hello all, I am faced with a new decision. I just met with the surgeon who is scheduled to do my lapband on 8/20 and during our conversation she mentioned the possibility of doing a bypass since my BMI is in the high 40's. I'm borderline lapband/bypass. She mentioned that she could do both it''s ultimately my decision but said that since I have more weight to loose I will obviously loose faster with bypass. Both procedures can be done laporascopically which is very nice and I could probably get away with one night hospital stay. I have to let her know soon. Does anyone know someone personally who has had the bypass. I'm not sure what to do. I probably should check of bypass forum. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

I'm 28! Im new to this whole thing. I currently have the band, but am scheduled to have the band to sleeve revision on Dec. 31st. Im a bit nervous. Anyone have any advice?

I have also heard that for some, they believe the band causes people to be "slow losers" but I honestly think that everyone loses at their own pace, it just gets blamed on the band in a revision patient. I have spoken to so many revision sleevers and it seems to be about the same ratio of fast to slow losers as "virgin" sleevers. And going back to what CowgirlJane said, I think ANY weight loss surgery is going to be what you make it. Yes, the band was a flawed system that made it so much harder to eat the healthy foods... however, I know for me personally, there came a point with my band that I gave up trying to find my "sweet spot" and resorted to sliders. I had been through so many fill adjustments that my patience and, as a self pay, money, were running thin. I resorted to sliders to get through and it was a very easy and familiar way of eating, so I stuck with it, instead of continuing to try and get the most out of my band. Do I think that everyone can be successful with the band if they just try harder? No, of course not (myself included), and I don't think anyone should be expected to go through the insane number of adjustments it would likely take to actually find a "sweet spot" for a lot of us. But, I do agree with Jane that part of the success with the sleeve, at least for me, will really come from evaluating where I made poor choices with the band. And honestly, in a lot of ways, I am thankful for my last 10 years with the band... as much of a mess as it was, I feel like it's put me in a good place mentally to adjust to a sleeve and be committed to the program I need for long term success!!

I can't believe it's been 6 months since my surgery. SIX MONTHS!!! It's almost been 1 year since my gastric bypass information meeting. I can't believe how fast time flys. I am currently down 90 pounds since surgery, and 130 since I started losing weight. Some people ask me..."Would you do it again?" YES!!!! It was a very hard and challenging chapter in my life but the positives outweigh the negatives. I remember the first day I crossed my legs without feeling uncomfortable. I felt like a lady. I can fit in my bathtub and take a nice warm bubble bath!! I can run instead of walk my dog. My shoes just slide on!!! I am no longer considered plus size. I went from a size 20 to size 7. I'm not quite done yet! Before and after!

I am so sorry for all the problems with the lap band. I had the gastric bypass and other than the hospital stay have been doing well. What a great gift to yourself. You will do great. Have a merry Christmas and a thin new year. Best of luck to you.

I was banded 1/08. I lost ~125, then lost full, gained a bunch back, had revision surgery 10/09. I got back to a total loss of 110 then got preggers. Had an unfilled and gained most all back. My baby is 13 mos and I finally got a fill again this week. So now I'm down about 60 from original and 100 to get to goal. Exercise....just keeping the faith...that's me

I paid $3000 just prior to my op as an out of pocket expense with no medicare rebate or private health rebate. Every single visit and fill ive had since has been bulk billed (meaning medicare is billed direct and only the scheduled fee) so ive never paid a cent more for aftercare. Any revision surgery i should ever need will also incur no cost to me at all. Elcee by all means blame the weather. I had fish and chips and n ice cream down at Dromana today. But Iv pretty much done liquids for ten days. And i just had a potato cake and about five chips!

I am 57 yrs old i did and am still doing great with the band.. age really isnt an issue as this is really just minor surgery, a bypass is much more involved and i didnt want rerouting of anything at my time of life. You have enjoyed food for 58 yrs, now is the time to make something else your priority in life, like getting healthy to enjoy your later years.. I have absolutely no regrets at all getting banded. You need to research all your options and make an informed decsion based on what u know u are capable of .. good luck !

Glad your doing well. You are correct on everyone is different. Some people lose immediately and some do not start losing until after a fill and some struggle with losing all together. You are also correct in trying to stay positive, if you follow the rules your chances of being successful with lap band are increased. Unlike gastric bypass we do not have dumping and we truly are what we eat. You have to learn early what a slider is, ice cream, milk shakes, chips, junk food. Unfortunately, these foods will seem to always go down when we struggle with healthy foods. But if you think about it, when you chew chips and pretzels they pretty much dissolve in your mouth and do not need the stomach to break it down, protein is another story, you chew and chew and chew to make sure it can pass through the band. Take what you can from everyones posts, we all get frustrated from time to time and this is our one sounding board that someone can identify with our frustrations. Good luck to you and remember to take pictures of your self now, and also measurements. These will save as reminders of where you started and how far you have come. Good luck to you.

you are Banded , you paid a lot of money for the band and alot of ppl can't even get it . It is a tool and you need to realize it is not magical and you need to work with it . just relax and dont' stress yourself . you do not need to have bypass . you can work with this . you just need to make changes in your lifestyle .maybe you are bloated in the AM . maybe drink more water to flush your system in the evening . just hang in there .and try new things and see what works with your awesome tool you were lucky enough to get . Good luck to you ..Make smart choices when eating and think before you eat something if you could eat something better for you !!

I changed jobs shortly after my wife had her surgery so we now have a different insurance company...BC/BS of Alabama. My wife tells me there have been a lot of horror stories on here about BC/BS. Does anyone have any info advice on getting approved with them? My boss had gastric bypass with them and I plan to talk with him more tomorrow about this.

Are you going to have revision surgery? Hope you're feeling okay. I haven't been on here in a while, I've been so busy at work it's not even funny. The last time I went in for a fill 4/2/12, I only lost 6 lbs in a month, but I spent a week on vacation not working out and eating like crap. The APRN decides to put me on Adipex. This past Wednesday I went in for a f/up appt and lost 7 lbs. IDK if it's the band or the medication, but I can eat small meals and be satisfied for 4 + hours. I go back on May 21st for a fill. I have a 4 cc band and I think I'm almost at capacity. If that happens, and I don't lose a ton of weight in six months, I may look into revision surgery. I'm tired of the ups and downs.

I was a big worrier my biggest fear what if something went wrong. I went back over the pro and con list I made to once again remind myself why I need to lose my weight. I questioned why I was scared or what was the real reason I was scared/worried. I question one of my biggest worry, death. Why was I afraid I might die? For me I question the trust of my surgeon. I took a deep look at why I was worried about the surgery itself and looked at the reality of my worries. I looked at the fact my surgeon was a stranger, I looked at if he was experienced enough, I looked at the trust I had for my doctor and staff. I found that my fears were unfounded. Yes, there are concerns for anyone going under the knife, but when looking at the low complication rate and trusting your skilled surgeon is the key. For me, I couldn’t trust my surgeon. My head and my heart said I should rethink my surgery so that’s what I did. I researched the operation compared to others (I’m glad I did I was schedule 3 days later for Gastric bypass but I changed to a VSG, thank goodness I did the research), complication rate, hospital standards, and most importantly, the doctors background (success rate, complication, or malpractice). Once all my concerns where answered, I prepared for my surgery using positive talk and meditation by thinking of the weight I would lose and the health I will get back. To help me through the stressful period, I downloaded some free meditation audio files and listen to them. Here is a link to Kaiser Permeate Guided imagery programs that really helped me. Download the one for surgery and take it with you to listen on your mp3 player. Your probably don’t need it, but good luck on your surgery. https://members.kaiserpermanente.org/redirects/listen/

Had my band to sleeve revision on Mon 9/27. It was interesting to say the least, with the nausea/reflux. But, I am now 5 days out and have the reflux under control and feel almost normal!! But, I am disappointed that I haven't lost. I gained 7 pounds in the hospital (due to all the IV fluids) and have only lost 2 of it since then. Anxiously waiting to get the scale in a downward spiral. I have been able to increase my protein/fluids every day, so maybe I will see a change tomorrow!!! Glad everyone is doing well...we've made it through the hardest part so far!!!! Debra