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I'm having surgery April 1st with Dr. Aceves. I really do feel like I am getting the whole package with Dr. Aceves and his team! Yes... the money aspect was difficult...but having complications would also be financially devastating and I think that his level of skill will give me the best chance to come through without problems with my revision from band to sleeve. I'll look forward to hearing about your experience!

I I had a revision 10 days ago and i cancan't figure out what hungry feels like. Help?

I am doing essentially all of that. The problem is that once the swelling from the the suturing went down (3months out) it had caused the unsutured portion to be stretched, so I have no restriction. I really do eat well. I contacted my surgeon, and he suggested tightening the sutures, however I had an awful experience healing, my stomach was swelled so that I could not eat. I was sick so often that I could not finish my 4th quarter at college, and I was not even able to ride my horse until July because I was too weak. We decided that since my body did not adjust well to the plication, that a revision to either banded plication or bypass would be best for me

Ana, It is funny that you mentioned internet rumors. You do not have your facts straight, and are spreading rumors. The Doctor in Ohio had done nearly 50 plications when his patient had the necrosis. At that time Dr Ortiz claimed that that had done nearly 200. Any Doctor can have complications and patients with weight loss failure. The difference that I see is that the Doctor in Ohio actually came on here and posted about his complication. The OCC sweeps any complications they might have under the rug. I know for a fact that they delete negative posts off of their forum. Josette Best of luck in whatever revision you decide to do. I felt very discouraged many times with my progess, or lack of. I am 18 months post op and weight loss has been very slow. I have lost about 95 pounds since my pre-op diet, and I have about 20 more to go. I have finally made peace with my my choice for plication. The weight loss has been so slow, that not many people would ever assume I had WLS. So what if it takes me almost 2 years to reach my goal? As long as I can keep the weight off, I will consider it a success. I paid $9000. plus another $2000. in travel expences. Then I had some complications that I had to have fixed, and that cost me another $8000. That is a lot of money for me, but my husband said it is the best money he ever spent. Even if I never reach my goal. I feel and look so much better then I did 95 pounds ago.

JG- you have had other people email you about the OCC? Wow! I'm glad you posted that. This is really something other plicaters should know about. I really hope the revision gives you the results you want and that your recovery goes better than the last. Good luck to you and keep us posted!

I just had a lower body lift in TJ with a wonderful surgeon, who is a board certified PS plus a micro-surgeon so his incisions are flawless...Please take your time and really research this, I spent a whole year looking for the right surgeon. I went to CosMed last year and had a terrible outcome, my arms need a revision as well as my breast. The implants need to be removed and the pocket rebuilt and then they have to heal for 6 months before another implant can be put in. I wish I had found my surgeon back then. My new surgeon is Dr Victor Gutierrez and he specializes in WLS patients also. He has a 5 star rating from realself. That's how I found him and I am so glad I did.

Good luck with the decision! It's not an easy one. Perhaps ask your dr to walk you through the pros and cons of each. It's impossible to predict the future, so we can't know how you will do with another band, or with the sleeve. It's just about working with your healthcare team to determine what is best for you based on the information you currently have. Neither the band nor the sleeve is perfect. If you decide not to have either though, then it's back to dieting the old fashioned way, which failed many of us. There is a specific forum for lap-band to sleeve revisions and you might be able to get some insight there as to what was good and bad for people who had that experience: http://www.bariatricpal.com/forum/394-band-to-gastric-sleeve-revisions/ Good luck!

Hi Tommy! Congratulations on your decision! I'm a revision lap band to sleeve October 5, 2015. My daughter Alexandra is scheduled for surgery with Dr. Illian June 6. I had mine done in the states but she is 17, three months shy of 18. And not only will my insurance not cover it because she's not 18 the hospitals won't do it if I pay cash, if they are board-certified because of their insurance, until she's 18. She'll be a senior in high school next year and really can't take the time off after she turns 18 to get the surgery done. So I'm going to direct her to this thread so she and you and others here on this platform can get to know one another and talk about upcoming life-changing experience.

I actually had my band done in Mexico in 2008. I decided to have the revision from band to sleeve early this year. I completed the 6 month requirement that UHC had and just got approved for the revision on last week. Took 2 days!! Don't give up!!

Hi, I haven't been revised yet but if you go look at the responses to my previous posts you'll get a lot of answers to these questions. 1. 500 cal??? Maybe in the beginning but not forever. 2. Nope - not recommended with any surgery - its just one of the things you need to accept 3. The part of the stomach left is very muscular and less likely to stretch (unless you really push it) 4. I can't attest to that as I'm not revised yet 5. For some the reduced Ghrelin does suppress appetite 6. hair loss is common after general anesthesia and if you are low on Protein so expect some around 3 months post op (happened with the band to) as long as you keep your protein up though it should grow back and be fine. Good luck!

Hi there! I was revised from band to sleeve on 9.15.10 - and sounds like you and I had similar experiences. Though I've never needed to be hospitalized with being too tight, I certainly know how it feels to not be able to drink simple Water. If you have any questions, I'm always happy to answer any. The sleeve saved me!! I don't regret my revision even a tiny bit.

For treating a regain problem, I prefer the DS as it is stronger metabolically than either the VSG or RNY - the RNY is too close to the VSG in strength to reliably offer a significant improvement in weight loss, from what I have seen over the years. Figure maybe 20lb loss on average - about what one would expect from going through all the intense dieting associated with going through surgery again. (There are some who do significantly better, bit it seems to be more a function of their determination to "make this work" or "not screw it up again" than the actual surgery itself. Call it something like a surgical placebo, lol.) By your surgeons not finding the codes for the DS implies that they are talking about the newer SIPS/SADI/"loop DS" which is a single anastomosis adaptation of the traditional BPD/DS (biliopancreatic diversion) which has been routinely covered by US insurance and Medicare for the past 14-15 years, but is a more complex procedure that relatively few bariatric surgeons perform. Some practices that do the SIPS/SADI use the BPD/DS billing codes which is technically insurance fraud, but if they're comfortable doing it, that's their concern. Revising the VSG to a DS, of either flavor, is straightforward as each use the VSG as its basis (some don't even consider it a revision, more a "completion" of the ultimate configuration.) The strong point of the BPD/DS is its regain resistance - regain is possible as it is with any of these procedures, but it is harder. I know many with the DS who are 10-20 years out (my wife included) who are still maintaining a healthy weight; some are up a bit more and working on losing their "Covid 19" - just like "normal" people but major regains are relatively uncommon. The SIPS/SADI type of DS seems to fall somewhere in between the VSG/RNY and the BPD/DS - I have seen a few in the various forums who have had it and seem to be doing well with it, but it doesn't have as long a history. Any of these procedures - the RNY, DS or SIPS - will be somewhat fussier and less care-free than your VSG when it comes to supplements and follow up; the RNY is maybe a bit less so, but one can get into some serious trouble with any of them if one slacks off. If keeping up with supplements and annual labs is not an issue with you, then any of them should be fine.

Gastric bypass revision

Hi! Would love to hear about your experience with Dr. S when you're up for it! I'm in the planning phase for LBL, inner TL, revising old arm lift (fingers crossed it can be done!), possible BL with new implants, and possibly UBL later on.

I agree with Missy, it depends on the condition of your stomach and the level of complication you have and how experienced your surgeon plays a role as well. Having a band removed and Sleeved in one surgery requires a highly skilled revision surgeon. Leaks are at a greater risk with Band to Sleeve revisions moreso than with virgin Sleeves. Also, BE AWARE that Band to Sleeve revisions have a LOWER success rate than virgin Sleeves, so before you remove your stomach for nothing, make SURE you research the Sleeve in its entirety before you get it done and once you get your stomach removed you can't turn back regardless if you like it or not.

Do people that had revision surgery lose weight more slowly. Also I am 4 weeks out and still having trouble with food. Sent from my SM-N920T using the BariatricPal App

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?

I had a lapband revision - to sleeve - done two weeks ago. I can tell you EVERYTHING about sliming, and copious amounts of saliva . . . . I lived with it daily for 5 YEARS! The sliming is actually your bodies way of trying to "wash down" something (food) which is stuck, The longer it's stuck, the more saliva your body produces (it thinks you may choke on the food). The reason your getting is stuck is a bit trickier. For me, it was almost always due to me not chewing my food until it was liquified. Also, if/when you over eat, your food will begin backing up your esophagus, Just slow down. I know it seems hard, but you're not doing your sleeve any good with regurgitating. Don't force yourself to eat more. Like "Spatters3" said, take a bite, put down your fork/spoon, chew, chew, chew, swallow, look around, chat a bit, or read a page of a book or magazine, then take another bite. Most importantly - DON'T GET TOO DISCOURAGED -- you'll get there.

Right?! I thought that was odd!! Their practice really goes by statistics and average excess weight loss per month to calculate this but I think it is really unrealistic for a second timer especially. When I mentioned that I was stalled he said it was too early for a stall. He's a great doctor and I really trust him but I think he may not have real life data about what goes on post-op. Thanks! My brain still can't see the loss even though everyone else does. Band to Vsg revision: 5/23/17 HW: 315+ Starting weight: 294 Surgery Day: 281 Current: 235 Goal 170

I had the sleeve in 2016 then had two babies and ultimately, regained almost all of it back. I have PCOS and infertility (had to do IVF), but no gerd. Will I be approved for revision from regain? I have BCBSIL PPO.

I've had a leak almost 9 months now. They have tried everything, sometimes more than once, I go to a large hospital in Seattle. I had a consult last week with a bariatric surgeon and after talking with him, I am really considering getting the "fix it surgery" or Bypass, because I am not healing and I have very little quality of life. But my gastro doc says "just be patient, i'm confident it will heal." As of now I have a PICC line (3rd one) for food. I haven't eaten in a month in a half and the month before that only a few bites of Beans a few times. I am so hungry!!! Of course, my family has to eat so I have to smell food every night and I want to cry. I have a drain tube (the 3rd one) coming out my back. Have lost 2 jobs and was recently given one back, but is now rocky because I can get sick at any given time and they know that. I have went to work a few days then been hospitalized several times and back out for approx. 2 months at a time. I am in pain almost always, have been on pain meds almost every single day. I have been hospitalized probably 10 times ( 5 hours away from my family so no one is ever able to be there with me). The longest stay almost a month. I have to go back (5 hours one way) every couple of weeks and sometimes we have to borrow money for gas just to get there. I has ruined us financially. I do have insurance but I have racked up at least 350,000 dollars in hospital bills. There were months we could not afford dinner for our kids. I can't sleep but a few hours at a time. I try to work 3 days a week just to keep the lights on and food in the fridge, but its obviously very uncomfortable as I am a nurse and on my feet all day. I have very little family support, just my husband who has taken about 6 weeks of time off work to take me back and forth to Seattle (he worries about his job) . In fact, it has ruined several relationships in my family. My parents only live 10 miles away, young and healthy (at least my mom, my dad does have med prob), and they have not showed up one time to ask if I need help while my husband is gone 50 hours a week working. That hurts the worst. I could probably go on and on as you can imagine, but I want people to see how bad it has been for me going through this as I am sure many of you can relate. I was told the bypass was an option from the beginning. But I did not want that, so I think I have been strong and held out for a long time before considering the fix it surgery, or Bypass. I just feel I cant do this much longer. And now my gastro doc wants me to go back to Seattle to have open surgery for a feeding tube in place of the picc line in a few weeks. So this is obviously far from over. This will be my second feeding tube. The bariatric surgeon and his partner act like this is a good idea at this point. Yes, of course they say my chances of complication increase because its a fix it or revision surgery, at about 5%. They seem confident I can have a successful surgery and heal and be back on my feet in about a month. I just need advice, comments, if you have done it and are you happy you did? I am afraid, and I have seen this story on this site where someone went through similar things and still had to have the bypass and of course, says don't go through this for too long because you may end up having to have it anyway. How is the bypass different in the way of eating and quality of life versus the sleeve. My gastro doc said it took one patient a year and a half to heal, but she did. Of course she was much older than me, but still I CANNOT IMAGINE LIVING LIKE THIS FOR 9 MORE MONTHS!!!! Thank you so much, I really need the support and information on this big decision.

Wow...I just had my band revision to rny on Monday...I hope that doesn't happen too often. I would also like to hear from those it has happened to and what they did to rectify it..I hope it stops happening for you...good luck

In my opinion, you don't just need a VSG surgeon, you need a surgeon who has done a significant number of revisions. I know my surgeon has done a number of revisions but he is in Mexico and you would have to self-pay. Maybe search the Band to Sleeve Revision forum for names?

"Current research shows a 25% re surgery rate with the band. that's a fact" Uh, sorry, it's not a fact. It's your opinion. You're entitled to your own opinion but not your own facts. I'm sure someone could dig up some study and manipulate the stats to make it appear this is the case but I can also pull up a study that states less than 10% revisions in the last 8 years. But, I do believe strongly in the sleeve and RNY too. I think both are excellent choices and hope you find much success with your new journey. tmf

First, you should know I've never been banded. Have just been sleeved. But yes, some people who've been sleeved do lose too much weight. But that's a rarity, not commonplace. And actually, based ONLY on what I've read online the last two years, it seems to me like at least some people who revise from a lapband to a sleeve have a harder time losing all their excess weight than those who are "virgin-sleeved." If this is true, I'm not sure why (I've never seen any well designed studies about this phenomenon). Those who've been banded / sleeved should chime in on this. But when I've read previously banded folks complain about slow weight loss after being sleeved, I've wondered if it's because people who were banded and didn't lose all their excess weight or who regained after having their bands removed have had more experience learning how to "cheat the band" (e.g., eaten more than their stomachs would handle by stacking food up in their esophaguses, eating slider foods because that's all that would stay down if the band made them throw up a lot) and fall back on those behaviors after they have been sleeved.