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It varies Marsha. I paid $17000 for my sleeve in Northern CA (an expensive part of the country). In Mexico, it typically costs around $10,000. There are surgeons in the US who do it cheaper, but I wasn't interested in them for various reasons. However, that's for a virgin sleeve. A revision is going to cost more.

I think the two best surgeons in Mexico are Dr. Aceves and Dr. Rumblaut. Dr. Aceves has done more sleeves, I believe. Dr. Rumblaut has a band himself. They are both very experienced in bariatric surgery, have excellent reputations, and are capable of doing complicated revisions.

Thank you, did Dr. Aceves do your band and sleeve. Is a revision doctor and doctor that does all three wls's.

Yep, he did my band and my revision. A revision surgeon is someone who does a LOT of revisions and I"m not referring to port replacements. If you look on OH MD boards you'll see someone doing 1000 revisions. Those are not true revisions. Fixing a port is not a true revision although some doctors claim it to improve their stats. A revision surgeon is someone who revises you from one surgery type to another. The best docs for revisions in MX are Rumbaut and Aceves.

I'm also a Dr. Barker alum - from both the lap-band and now the VSG. And yes, he is super cute. His ads don't do him justice. I'm sure he knows all the ladies have the hots for him. A couple of days after my first VSG post-op visit (I had lap-band revision, he also removed my gall bladder and fixed a hiatal hernia), I got a hematoma under the incision where my band port had been. The incision opened up and the blood drained out, so I had to meet Dr. B at the ER for him to clean it out and make sure I was OK. Since I had just seen him earlier that week, he quipped "we're going to have to stop meeting like this or your husband will start to suspect something" and gave me a big grin. I thought I was going to melt into the floor.

Yes I was not quite prepared. I had my first appointment to discuss my band to sleeve revision and then 2 weeks later I was in surgery. And I had to make an unexpected trip across country for work in that 2 weeks. But I was determined to do it so I just went with the flow.

The possible saving grace, is that people who want to test run the sleeve, can revise to RNY. (I understand it would be a second surgery and all that that brings.) I do think I'd follow surgeon's advise. I do believe it's smart to preop investigate the cause.

Did anyone else see the news about lap-band being approved for lower BMI patients? Here is a link to one of the articles: http://www.stltoday.com/news/national/bf0ef1ec-62b7-5f8e-adec-5151c1de71b5.html I suppose it is good that BMI requirements are coming down for some weight loss surgery, but as a lap-band revision hopeful, I am really concerned about how the news media is covering all this. The article says there are only 2 weight loss surgery options: lap band and gastric bypass. I don't know, with all the lap-band billboards and this news coverage, I am really frustrated that there isn't more real information out there. I am so glad this board is here - it has given me hope of a better option. Have a great weekend, everybody!

I was banded Oct 1, 2008. The complications started the day of surgery when a nurse held my ankles and made me reach above my head, grab the bedrails and pull my butt into the hospital bed. I had a shredding pain spread across my abdomen. No big deal they said, hit the pain pump. The next morning I woke up to an enormous bruise that was about 7" wide by 10" long across my abdomen under my port site sutures. I was scared. . .But was reassured that nothing was wrong with me. Fast forward 10 days, suture removal, the bruising has now spread to my side and down even further my abdomen. The port site suture could not be removed because of swelling. The nurse dug around in one of my lap sites to remove sutures, and she couldn't get them out. YAY. 2 weeks later, I had cottage cheese consistency, old blood spewing from the lap site, it's now the size of a lima bean, and I see all the way to the pink layers of my abdomen, right through the fat. The infection is now tunnelling through my tummy. YAY YAY. They didn't seem too concerned, just keep it clean. Okay, off I go, 6 weeks later, the little hole is now getting smaller, it closes one day, but to my surprise there was something growing behind it. LOVELY. Prescription of Levaquin should resolve that. . . I quit having restriction around Thanksgiving with a total of 2.5cc in my "band", in the tubing really. Was told to just stick to the diet, and to remember I am ahead of the game with 25lbs gone. December rolls around, not restriction, can eat more than I should, trying to be good. Called office about not having restriction, am told that it may take 25+ fills to get restriction and I need to accept it. REALLY? I'll throw out this and it maybe TMI for some. But, our sex life suffered substantially because the port area was so sensitive, sex was sometimes impossible. . . Even though my husband is the most understanding, loving, and supportive husband in the universe, I hated feeling that we could not be intimate because I hurt so badly. Okay, now fast forward end of Jan. Lost 1 pound in 2 months, YAY. I have a lot pain in my port area especially about my monthly cycle. Told surgeon, he looks dumbfounded. Manipulates the port for 15-20 minutes, I get 1cc finally. Thought I had restriction, yeah, not really. February, port pain is becoming more and more noticeable. And when I say pain, I mean pain level 6-8 on a daily basis. I go in for a fill even though they don't want to give me one, and he can't get to the port after 20 minutes of gouging around in my abdomen. It's swelling, bruising... I ask about the bleeding, and they finally agree to test me for R5 factor, reaction to Heparin. I am NEGATIVE. I received 5cc of heparin over a 30 hour hospital stay. Okay, March 3rd, went in for a fill under fluoro, yep port is flipped, he digs on me for another 20 minutes, 5 different sticks, and can't get it under fluoro. I'm devastated. . . I ask him "why do I hurt everyday?" his reply " I honestly don't know ". . . Hmmmm this is not good. 6 days later, I show up for another attempt under fluoro even though they tell me it is to be done the next week. He agrees to try again, I get to radiology, and he says " have I accessed the port since repositioning it?" Ummm I was just here 6 days ago, and NO you haven't repositioned my port. He chuckled and said "oh dear, I've forgotten your chart." The fluoro table is at a 25degree angle, he manipulates the port and is able to give me 1cc, and tells me "see ya in 60 days". . . And off he went. I left feeling like I was just ridden hard and put up wet. It was horrific. . . I called a week later and spoke with his nurse who proceeded to tell me " you haven't been happy since the beginning" I argued and said " No I haven't been happy since I have been ignored, and brushed off, and having complications that are trivialized by you and your husband." I told her I wanted my chart, and it took me driving down there and waiting an hour and a half to get my measley chart. She proceeded to tell me " you should of had gastric bypass like I told you". LOVELY. I am not sure if I would of been successful with the band, but I know that I am so glad that I am getting the revision. The PB, sliming,getting stuck on crystal light was just too much for me to tolerate. I followed the rules, I worked my butt off for that 1lb loss between Thanksgiving and January 22nd. I truly feel like I was set up for failure by my surgeon, and I am so grateful to have the approval that I need to have the band removed and revision to the sleeve in June. I was one of those ecstatic band patients until I had problems. Couple that with lack of concern and aftercare from my surgeon, I don't regret my choice for the band initially, I am sad it took me this long to get the hell away from my original surgeon.

I am a self pay patient in new jersey, My insurance company does not cover weight me. I totally have a $13000 cash deposit I saved for this surgery. I found a new jersey surgeon has a $12000 sleeve package, but he does not offer any complications insurance for me to buy. I found a florida surgery he has a $13000 packet including blis complication cost coverage. But i need to pay hotel and flights for me and my companion. But if i really have leaking, infection, etc. How i could immediately fly to Florida for the revision? May I know how are your self pay guys prepare for the complications cost?

I have Aetna POS in Texas as well. They will cover my band but will not cover the sleeve as my first WLS only as a revision. They tell me they consider the sleeve experimental. Who did you contact at Aetna? I am scheduled for Mexico on 12/29 and will lose my deposit and 1000.00 worth of plane tickets if I don't go there. I know that as soon as I get it done, Aetna will cover it. That is just going to be my luck. Bill

You have nothing to be ashamed of. I am proud of you and I don't even know you. It takes courage to keep working to make yourself more healthy. There is a whole forum here for people with band to sleeve revisions. I know you will find even more support there. http://www.bariatricpal.com/forum/394-band-to-gastric-sleeve-revisions/ All the best for your surgery.

Hi Gigi, I made the revision from lap band to gastric sleeve recently. My doctor required a three month wait between band removal and sleeve surgery. He said a lot of the callous tissue that builds around the band will subside if given a waiting period. It made sense to me, and asking around in my area at seminars pre-decision to do this, all the doctors (under my medical coverage) in my local area were of the same opinion. They said simply, waiting was safer. The band removal was quick. I was in surgery and out same morning. The port site, removal, was the most painful area for a few days. The sleeve pain levels were less than the band removal, however new eating rules and such of course have been a much bigger event after the sleeve. Best wishes to your husband, and you. It's great to see your support already in this, as My husband has been terrific supporting me.

TreeMystic, I'm so sorry to hear that you weren't able to get your gastric sleeve done, but at least you have the option of getting it done in 6 weeks. Unfortunately I can't relate exactly to what you are going through, but I think that I have a pretty good understanding. I know what it's like to have revision surgery (lapband to sleeve) because I just had it done on April 4, 2018 after having my band for over 11 years. I know that your experience is a lot to process at the moment , but things are going to get better. Six weeks will be here sooner than you know it. good luck to you.

Ok..i had the surgery on Monday.. Was drinking fine at the hospital.. But ever since yesterday I get chest pressure that really really hurts.. I also cannot keep much down. Seemed as though the liquids I am drinking sits on my chest.. Then comes that feeling of pressure. Then a couple of minutes later Ithrow up what I just drank. Has anyone expected this.? Are the chest. ,pain due to gas. I am taking nexium and gas x strips. Are all these symptoms normal.? Btw I had the band to sleeve revision.

Hi Everyone This is my first time message so I wasn't sure where to post it, but I figured I would try here. Long story short I was banded at the end of July. I had a lower BMI and have lost 40 pounds so far and am more than half way to my goal. I had to have two revision surgeries due to excessive burping, which has been fixed due to a new band (so thankful!). I had the realize band put in a little over a month ago. These past few days I have been experiencing severe port pain. It is very difficult to bend over and go from sitting to standing or visa versa. If I even move the wrong way a little bit I get a very painful twinge. I know it is common to be uncomfortable with the realize band port in the beginning, I just wanted to know if anyone has had an onset of more severe pain a few weeks after. I did see my surgeon today and he does not seem to be concerned about it. He checked for infection and said that I don't seem to have one, but obviously to come back if I develop any of the symptoms (I already had an infection so I know what to look for). He also said that my body is healing from the three surgeries in a short period of time. I trust him completely and I do think it is my body just getting used to the hooks in the muscle, but was hoping to hear from someone that had a similar experience and has advice as to how to make it feel a little better because it is pretty painful. My other question was to see if anyone had any granulation tissue at the incision site. After the third surgery I had an infection. After it went away I noticed a hard scab on my bellybutton. Once the scab came off I realized that I had what looked like a hard sac of Fluid covering my bellybutton. The doctor put silver nitrate on it and said it was granulation tissue that had pushed out through the incision. He said the silver nitrate only works in 30% of patients and that if it didn't work it would have to be removed. I was so nervous because I did not want to have anymore procedures. Luckily I went back today and it has reduced so much. The doctor put more of the silver nitrate on and said to monitor it, but it should disappear. I just wanted to know if anyone else had granulation tissue at the incision site because I have searched through the threads and haven't really found anyone that has. Sorry for the randomness of the questions. I am in grad school and don't really have anyone else to relate to about this. I just want to be back to myself as soon as possible and really appreciate any advice or helpful info anyone has Thanks!

I have heard that they have to put a date in when they submit to insurance, but that that date is/can be later revised once the approval is in.

I had revision 1/28 and I'm down 55. I think it makes a difference where your starting weight is with the revision. I started at 287.

I was banded 2005 had my revision 4/9/2014 and is down 15 pounds...i have no appetite and I try to walk 20 min a day everyday... Good luck

I will be having my revision on 4/24/14 I will gladly tell you how i am doing through the steps if you like!

I had my revision Feb 25, 2014 and I've lost 47 lbs in those 7 weeks. Feeling great!

My revision starting weight was 265 and today my weight was 238. Lap band 3/6/2006 starting weight 316 lowest weight 165 revision weight 265.

I'm going through the stages of having revision surgery - my nutritionist has been emphasizing that after I get sleeved - I have to do "high protein" - low-carb. They have me following the plan now as a "pre-op" diet although I'm still waiting for approval

I'm glad you made it through okay. I hope you heal well and feel better really quickly. Two friends of mine who used to post here regularly just had their bands removed due to erosion, as well. One was worse than the other- one was able to revise to VSG, the other wasn't. Best to you. Feel better soon.

I paid for a band out of pocket over ten years ago. It functioned for ... three or four months. That's it. No restriction at all after that. I have confirmation that my band is defective (it "balloons" up on one side when filled rather than equally around the stomach), but as a self-pay there wasn't much I could do about it because I had spent all the money I had on getting the band. Now I'm hoping to be able to do a revision to the sleeve in one procedure. I may need two procedures (one to take the band out, another for the sleeve). As a self-pay this is all very frustrating. Do your research. There are people that are very happy with the band, but there are lots that are not. In the end, it's your decision. Whatever you decide, just make sure you are fully educated and you know what awaits you.