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I haven't personally needed to do that, but it is sometimes done either as a planned two step DS procedure, or as a revision/completion of the VSG to continue the weight loss or counter regain. The point that my doc stressed in considering using it as a "plan B" in the event of inadequate results from the VSG is that the revision/completion works best if done before any substantial regain occurs. One of the points that we have discussed over the years in our support group is that with the DS, the majority of the weight loss is due to the sleeve while the switch helps keep the weight off, implying that you may have already used the majority of the weight loss power available. If I were considering a completion or revision in similar circumstances, I would want to know whether there is any problem or defect with the sleeve or something about how I used it as a tool that has left me with less results than I may have expected, so that such can be addressed and corrected as part of the revision process. Is there something about my diet or other habits that has caused a shortfall in performance of the original surgery, which is something that I would want to address, or is there a metabolic problem that the switch would address that the sleeve alone does not? Good luck in finding your answers and with decisions....

Yay Deb! Seeing family is always good. Glad you are losing. Take it slow and easy as you get used to your band's new rules! Melody, my 2 cents. Without any form of WLS, you know what will happen. You do. I do. We all do. Else we would not be here working our bands. I'd not hesitate to revise to another procedure now that I've "been to "Paris" as it were. I don't want to go back to the land of high blood pressure, the road to diabetes, heart disease, and not liking my body. Talk, talk, talk to your surgeon. If he has to remove the band, and he can revise during the same operation, why not? Why risk two surgeries? But, if you revise and leave us here at LBT, as Jim Carrey would say in the Grinch, "I'll hunt you down and gut you like a fish!"

Welcome Deb, 2beskinny, counselor, and all other new bandsters to the thread. Went for pre-op--small, funny shock happened. For years I have been thinking I was 5'5--lo and behold I am 5'3." My ticker, BMI, has been all wrong--no wonder my 6'5" husband always felt so much taller--I just thought he was taller than he thought Leigha--good job on losing weight. Thanks. I have got to search to see if after port revision you do liquids--I would assume so, but how long. I meant to ask the surgeon. Melody--hang in there. I just cannot figure out what to do--I am getting 1200-1600 calories in before exercise and scale remains unmoved this week. I was doing 60 grams of carbs--going down to 30lbs--I know 60lbs was too dang many.

Thanks everyone. I'm feeling less 'frantic' this morning about this whole band removal. I had a chance to speak with the insurance department at the bariatric center and they told me that I do not need preapproval to get my band out since I am having complications (pain) from it. I also don't have to have the sleeve done at the same time. The process for getting approved for a second WLS is the same whether I do it when the band is removed or at a later date. She said it is usually harder to get approved for a second surgery but mine should be a snap since I need the revision due to problems with the band and because I've shown a steady loss since getting the band. Since another psych eval is required for the revision, I think I'm going to go ahead and schedule it and talk about my concerns and reservations with her. My husband suggested I do a series of visits with her. However, despite the fact that it's two more surgeries instead of one, I think I'm going to get the band taken out and wait on doing the revision. That's just such a huge step and I'm not ready right now to take it. In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy the lack of hunger and lack of desire to eat and use this time to really focus on eating properly to control my diabetes...low carb, keeping my calories below 1200 and trying to get in an hour of exercise each day. Any weight loss will be a bonus. .

Thank you its nice to see the scale going back down lol. My insurance initially denied it; but my surgeon sent in an appeal and some how pushed it through. It literally took me a month from when we decided we would do the revision to the actual surgery date. I was fortunate!

Thanks so much to all of you who responded. I heard this past Friday that the insurance approved and that I need only to visit the nutritionist before they send me to the surgeon to schedule the bypass. I'm amazed that they (the insurance or the weight mgmt clinic/hospital) didn't want me in a longer pre-op period. I assume because it's a revision...? Not sure how long it'll be between THIS coming Wed (when I see the nutritionist) and the surgery is scheduled, but I'm super excited!

@Marinerman sorry the balloon didn't work for you😞 are you going to have a revision to another WLS? good luck kathy

Shortly after sending out the email on Sunday. I started receiving phone calls and email responsed and so far about 4 phone calls and 5 responses to my email and all of the have been VERY POSITIVE!!!!!! I WILL COPY ALL THE RESPONSES HERE SO YOU ladies can also read the responses. HERE ARE SOME RESPONSES!!! On Monday, April 14, 2014 8:46 PM, Carmen M <carmen2k2003@yahoo.com> wrote: Hello Rose, First, congratz on a journey to a healthier you! Second, you have nothing to fear. I did my lap-band in Angeles hospital in TJ, Mexico in 2007. It was a new hospital at the time and it was like a 5 star hotel for me in my experience. The doctors and staff went the extra mile to make me feel comfortable and at home. They really took good care of me. I thought their patient care quality was superb! In 2013, I did my revision from band to sleeve at the INT hospital in TJ Mexico. The doctors and staff was great there, too! Angeles hospital is newer and more appealing in terms of aesthetic and more comfortable for you and whoever accompanies you on your journey. I hope my input helps put your worries at rest, you really have absolutely nothing to fear. God bless, Carmen

Hi all, I have an appointment to see a surgeon about either bypass or sleeve revision from the LapBand. I have done a lot of research but am not sure which one I should do. My insurance covers both but I have been on GERD meds for several years. I think it is because of the LAPBAND, did not have trouble with it before.......wonder if it will go away with the sleeve or if I should just go to the bypass surgery. UGH! So sick of the vomiting and the GERD and not being able to sleep laying flat because whatever I drank would come shooting out my nose and mouth.......I lost 95 lbs initially after my Band but gained back 17 lbs. So I am still at 220 lbs and at 5'3" and 52 yrs old I need to do something now to be healthy for a long rest of my life. I teach 4th grade and I want to be able to do so for as long as possible, comfortably! Any words of advice or insight would be appreciated!

Hi everyone I have a line and a dent across my stomach. The dent is under my largest incision

Hi@Ndonato! Are they making you meet the requirements as if this is your first surgery? Because the Insurance coordinator at my surgeons office tried to tell me I had to start all over and she was very wrong!!! Aetna revision surgery requirements are different then the requirements to get the first bariatric surgery. If have GERD and a "deformed fundus" and a hernia. But in order to get a revision with Aetna, your first surgery had to have be "medically necessary". I got my sleeve done in Mexico in 2014 because back then, I went through the requirements process and was denied by Cigna Medical. So now my fight with my current surgeons office is "medically necessary" to WHO?!...the insurance company or the doctor?!?

Hello! New to this site on the gastric bypass side anyway... I was a previous member before and during the golden days of the lapband. The golden days are over, I am so ready to get the band out... It seems there were different stages of life with the band in the past few years, that I thought were bad and seemed to get more uncomfortable. The more horror stories I hear the more I realize this thing is crap and should be taken off the market. I started the process to get band removed and revised to bypass in Oct 2013, Met all the requirements and wasn't approved by psych, did therapy and it helped, then as a military family we moved and had to start the process all over again. So I finally have a surgery date August 12!! I received the insurance approval on Friday !! Whoot! Whoot!! I am so excited, as well as a little nervous. I know several bypass patients who have been very successful for 10, 15 and 20 years... I am ready to live a healthy life forever. I am in the process of buying my Vitamins and trying really hard to do the modified pre op diet until next week and then I will start the pre op diet. Which consists of lean meat and veggies, and 1 fruit a day. Which is too far out from what I am doing already. Although I am super excited these are my concerns, was wondering if yall have had any of the same concerns. I told my boss I was having surgery, didn't mention what type he's a doctor and didn't want to go into details, and judgment of the lapband. But I feel like I should tell in case their are complications. I am scared to death, I will wake up with the band removed and the bypass not completed. And last surgery is on the 12, and I have to be back to work the 24th. I work in a small practice and there is no one to cover for me if I need more time. Thanks to everyone and cheers to getting the band removed and starting a new life!!

You're really in a bad place and I am absolutely sure you had to go through the psychiatric exam and process before being given the green light for your surgery. The classes before surgery are always informative so I think what they said just didn't stick with you. I had the sleeve surgery 3 years ago and do to reflux disease getting worse I am having RNY revision surgery on July 16th. I don't expect it to be a walk in the park and I know exactly what to expect. Maybe I look at it differently but I never really ran my day to day life on the food in my life. I think that you might greatly benefit from seeking help with your mindset. I am sure that it's affecting your whole family and your quality of life. Instead of being miserable all the time find an outlet other than food to think about. Good luck to you Sent from my SM-G960U using BariatricPal mobile app

How do you measure your food without the scale? Girl I take it everywhere esp when I go to my parents house for dinner. They laugh at me but I don't care. I'm serious I seen too many ppl do revisions.

I got the sleeve knowing if I wasn't successful that I could get the DS as a revision to lose the rest. I have been very happy with my results from the sleeve and the DS isn't needed for me. If I was going to revise to the DS from the sleeve I wait until after the 2 year mark. I lost another 50 plus pounds so far after the 1 year mark. I would also look at how you are eating. What are you daily protein and carbs?

My port is located one inch to the right of my belly button. I already had a port revision as it was sticking out too far.

Hey Karen--good to see you on LBT Welcome Misty to the thread and restriction. Just stopping in briefly. Port revision surgery tomorrow! Will check back in tomorrow if I am not too out of it.

33 was a revision from Band to sleeve. Have diabetes and high blood pressure. Sleep Apnea I believe might have been resolved Adter the band

Why do you have to have a revision?

If your insurance covers VSG, but your surgeon does not have admission rights at any network hospitals, you can ask your insurance for an exception. They may pay for you to get it done at that hospital. It's worth asking. Be sure you choose your surgeon with care. Revisions are no joke, and you want a surgeon who's been vetted and is experienced with good outcomes. Obesityhelp.com is a good first resource for that IME. A DS (duodenal switch) is not like an RNY, BTW. Your pyloric valve remains intact, and you don't have a pouch, you have a stomach. A DS involves the same stomach reduction as a VSG, but they do re-route your intestines. It's the heavy duty WLS. VSG is often stage 1 of 2 for DS patients.

Hey we are surgery buddies. I did my revision from sleeve to bypass on the 28th after regaining all the weight plus a little bonus. Hoping for a better this time around. All the best!

I wasn't to take anti-inflamatories for the first few months because it's a stomach irritant, and with my GERD and propensity to develop stomach ulcers, that would have increased the risk of things getting stirred up. However it wasn't a "never again" thing. I take them now. I'd ask your team why they've permanently taken them off the table for you. As for swallowing pills - yeah, post-surgery seems to have permanently made it unpleasant. Never bothered me before, but now I avoid large tablets if there's a smaller option. I also opt for whatever chewable supplements I can get. I still have some I must swallow, so I just go slow. Can't speak for the revision weight-loss rate, but I hope all goes well for you now! You've certainly earned it!

I am very fortunate to have a great support system with my family. When I first got home my husband would ask me, "Do you mind if I eat this?" My answer to him was, "Just because I had weight loss surgery, doesn't mean you can't eat things." My biggest problem is I have been averaging a 50 to 60 hour work week for most of this year. I returned to work full time on 11/11 and have yet put in a 40 hour work week. This makes it difficult to exercise. I have had to plan and take food with me. In the past I would get in the office around 8 a.m. and sometimes not leave until 10 p.m. or later. I didn't know when I left that morning that I would be there. Prior to surgery, I would buy something from the vending machine. I knew that this would be an obstacle for me after surgery, and knew that the long hours would still be happening so I made sure to plan for it. Life gets in the way of lot of things. You have to make the best of it or learn from previous times so you make a better choice the next time. Laura, you have done a fantastic job this past year and I know you will continue into year two. I know for me I will have to plan for awhile until these good habits become automatic. Even with that I will need to examine and make sure that I stay on the path with the best decisions. Since I am a revision patient, I look at this as a second opportunity and want to make the most of it. I believe that by not following the rules and thinking I knew more about what I could eat contributed to my situation. It is time to put the pride away and listen to someone else who has helped others be successful with their weight loss surgery.

Tricare paided for my tummy tuck. I had my band and in 2011 I had my tummy tuck in 2013 and was covered. Im' now having a revision from band to bypass on the 30th that tricare is covering also

The long term success of either surgery depends upon you. Many of the initial benefits of bariatric surgery fade over time. Your hunger comes back, your restriction can soften, it is possible to eat around your smaller tummy & your body’s new set point, etc. What the surgery does do is give you time. Time to make changes to your relationship with food: the why you eat, what you eat, when you eat, how you eat. Time to understand your cravings & develop strategies to better manage them. Time to establish new habits about eating & exercise. Time to work out how you want to eat in the future & what works for you & your body. Regain occurs for many reasons: psychological, physiological, behavioural. Bounce back regain (usually 20%+/- of the weight lost) around the third year is common. It can be because your body settles into the weight it is happiest at (your set point). Medication changes. The crap life can throw at you (employment, relationships, health, pandemics). Complacency. A too restrictive way of eating or too demanding exercise regime. Not dealing with your relationship with food. And for some it can be a deliberate choice as they themselves feel happier at a higher weight or they make adjustments to their food choices to better suit their life. Not failure of the surgery but the impact of outside factors. The average weight loss for both sleeve or bypass at the three year mark is about 65% of the weight to be lost. Of course as with all statistics there are some who lose more & some who lose less. If you are considering revision surgery of sleeve to bypass as a sign of the failure of the sleeve, remember many who have revision surgery do so because they developed GERD not necessarily weight gain. I have a sleeve & lost more than my goal and have pretty much maintained though at only almost 4 years post surgery I’m still somewhat of a bariatric baby. I settled at 49kg (48.5-49.5). I unexpectedly gained about 2kgs about 18months ago (50.5-51) but recently we discovered I wasn’t absorbing my HRT meds. Changed to a patch & my weight is slowly decreasing (49.2-50). Small numbers I know. Has it been difficult? No, not really. It was very obvious what I had been doing wasn’t working for me & I needed to make changes. I put myself & my health first. I changed my relationship with food. Made a decision to change what, when & how I ate. It became a new mindset. The changes have been sustainable & haven’t restricted my life. I still enjoy food & eating but my desire is for healthier, more nutritious foods. And no I’m not running marathons or spending hours in the gym just some at home stretching & resistance bands. Sorry long post.