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I'll warn you in advance, this post is very passionate. I'm going to tell you about my personal experiences, and what made me come to my conclusions about the band. I'm currently on my second band and trying to get a revision surgery to RNY bypass approved by my insurance. Obviously, my advice would be "anything but the band!" When I first got the band, doctors were encouraging us to have it filled to the point where it severely physically limited the amount you can eat. Unfortunately, that leads to a huge likelihood of complications (slippage/prolapse, erosion, esophageal problems, GERD, and others). I stupidly listened to my doctor when she just prescribed proton-pump inhibitors for the GERD that I developed, instead of telling me to come in to have liquid removed. I now know that I was way, way, way too tight. Eventually, I had to have a major unfill because the acid reflux was to the point where I was waking up choking on stomach acid, even though I was sleeping almost upright. When I moved across the country and switched surgeons, my new surgeon had a fluoroscope in his office and could do imaging right there. We found out that I'd had a major slip, to the point where the space where food passes from the upper pouch to the lower pouch was only about the size of a pencil eraser (and this was after the unfill by my first surgeon several months beforehand). Obviously, that band had to come out. My second band has been nothing but a pain in the hiney. I can't get to the "sweet spot" with it at all, and at this point, I've regained almost everything I lost with my first band (and I was initially very successful with the first one, lost 90 pounds and was well within a normal BMI range). I've developed acid reflux again, and that's cause me a lot of issues. I actually have to go this week to get two tooth fillings replaced because the acid is causing them to break down. I'm getting acid erosion on my teeth, too, so I now have to use a prescription toothpaste. I have zero fill whatsoever at this point, because when I tried to eat a raw carrot, the band decided that even though it had let me eat them every day for a month, it didn't like it that day, and it got stuck and caused a major "PB" session in the bathroom. That caused my acid reflux to come back with a vengeance, to the point where I thought I'd had another slip. People say, "Oh, it's less invasive." Bull-you know what. The only time the band is "less invasive" is during the initial procedure. Don't forget that you've got to have regular fill/unfill appointments, which if they're done right, are done with fluoroscopy, so that the doctor knows the condition of the pouch and band as he fills the band. If you have any complications with the band, you're going to be having surgery again, because all the complications of the band are generally going to require either removal or repositioning. You have to constantly worry about getting sick or something getting "stuck" in the band, because vomiting can cause a slip/prolapse. I am always worrying about getting the flu or having motion sickness and causing myself even more problems than I already have. The whole point of the band is that it artificially creates a smaller "stomach" pouch that limits the amount you eat by making you feel full faster. I feel like if you can't have the band filled to where it's doing what it's supposed to do (limiting the amount you eat), because it puts you at high risk of major complications, then what's the point of having it? If we had great will power and were able to limit the types and amount of food that we eat on our own, none of us would be at the point of needing WLS in the first place. I honestly think that a lot of us are still stuck in that mind-space where we think that weight loss should be hard, and we try to make it harder than it has to be. Like a lot of normal-weight people think, we subconsciously think that we're taking the easy way out, so we try to make it more difficult, that the process being harder "builds character." People always say, "I didn't put the weight on in a day, I shouldn't take it off in a day." Why are we making this harder than it has to be? "Harder" doesn't build character, it's just harder. Why is it bad to do something "the easy way?" (Yes, we all know it isn't, but I'm talking about our subconscious thoughts.) We use dishwashers instead of washing all our dishes by hand using Water boiled on the stove, we don't usually wash all of our clothes by hand, we don't walk to work, and we aren't cooking over open fires anymore. Like the saying goes, "Work smarter, not harder."

I will chime in here as a woman who has had two children already before WLS. I have almost zero loose skin on my body post wls EXCEPT in the area of my stomach below my belly button. It is stretched out as a result of two pregnancies. I have Freddy Kruger stretch marks where the skin was stretched beyond repair. There is a reason why plastic surgeons don't recommend tummy tucks to patients who plan to have children. There is a chance you will stretch out the muscles that were tightened and the skin will be stretched. If you have an endless surplus of cash to get surgery now, go for it! Just know there is a pretty good chance you may have to have a revision later. As far as other procedures, you weren't very specific in your post what you were considering. It may be wise to seek the guidance of a plastic surgeon to address your concerns.

I'm also a band-to-sleeve patient. My band was working great until last December (12/14), when I got a tear in my stomach from the stitches that held my band in place. I got my band-to-sleeve revision surgery last February. So far I've only lost 5 lbs, but I really haven't been trying hard to lose weight either - I'm still eating cheeseburgers :-)

I currently have the band, but I keep vomiting and am miserable and not losing weight. I spoke to my doc about revising to the sleeve nod currently he has taken all the Fluid from my band. He recommended me getting the sleeve. I'm kind of leaning towards this because I'm not thrilled with bypass. And right now my bmi is 36, so he feels like I'd do better with a sleeve also because of my age. But I was wondering, do you get dumping with the sleeve? I've read some do and some don't. Honestly I would want to have it because I do have an issue with avoiding sweets and I'd want to know that I physically can't eat them. So just wondering. TIA

I co-sign the "get another doctor" vote. Your doc doesn't sound as if he's comfortable with the surgery and that's the last knife you should want to be under. The band seems to be phasing out ( more being undone and revised). Get with a skilled surgeon who is keeping abreast of research and doesn't reek of contradictions ( why is he expecting to keep performing surgeries on you in gradations throughout your life? Has he no faith in the surgeries he's willing to perform?)

I live alone. I had the band to sleeve revision so was expecting a harder recovery. I made sure house was clean beforehand, had liquid Tylenol on hand, protein shakes, jello already made and soup. Get your prescriptions filled before you go home. I didn't get any filled - didn't need them. Recovery was Very Quick. Only took the dog out to go to the bathroom. It was winter, if I had it now I would have taken her for short walks. Had people calling me to see if I needed anything but I didn't.

I went through band to sleeve revision on Tuesday. Now I have this heavy feeling dead center of my chest. It's not painful, doesn't interfere with breathing...just annoying. Have any of you experienced this?

Please bear in mind that I am a very happy and very successful bandit now 9 years post-op. I do not regret my band, would do it all over again and if I ever have to have it removed, I would hope to have a replacement. When I was banded in 2006, it was a miracle surgery. And for some people, who accept that they will still have to work hard, it is just that. It was and still is for me. But over the years it has become clear that serious complications necessitating further surgery are much more common than originally thought, some of these are avoidable by careful eating and by not keeping the band tight; unfortunately others are beyond our control. We used to be warned about band slips, leaks and about ( very rare) erosion into the stomach tissue but it turns out that a build up of scar tissue round the band (causing it to tighten) is quite common. It can be very difficult to get the right level of restriction and some people are tempted to keep it tight enough to physically limit food, in fact it was once thought this was how it should be. But this causes food to back up into the oesophagus and that risks problems such as oesophageal dysmotility which may be irreversible. It can also damage the vagus nerve. Quite a number of doctors have stopped implanting bands as they found the removal rate was unacceptably high and it was too easy not to lose enough weight. Revision from band to sleeve is nit uncommon! We still need lots of will power. The band makes it easier by dimming hunger, but it does nothing for head hunger and, contrary to popular opinion, it does not and should not physically stop us eating. If it does it is too tight! Having said all that, I love my band, I know many successful long term bandits in real life. My own experience has been good and so has that of almost all those I actually know and have met.

Many people far younger than 40 are having other WL surgeries, and I don't agree that in 5 years you will regain the weight (unless you aren't planning on following the plan for after the surgery). You will have to work to keep the weight off, that's no surprise. But there is also the revision to RNY after the sleeve surgery if the sleeve isn't working. So there are alternatives to the band, but if you will follow the after-plan after the sleeve surgery, I don't see why it wouldn't be a success. I agree with LeeRN, see other surgeons about this. I, too, think your dr. may have ulterior motives. It can't hurt to ask other doctors, and you may get it covered by insurance.

Band07 I just took a look at one of your old post. It states that you are 175 but want to be 150 and you are considering a revision. No judgment, I'm just curious, are you considering surgery to lose 15pds? I didn't know at such a low BMI a revision could be done. Again, just asking. Your old post also states that you had the sleeve in 2013 and you have since gained 10 pounds. And that you have never really felt a restriction and can eat whatever you want... Is it possible that your surgery wasn't performed well or there is a decrease in its function because you are a revision from band? It's true my sleeve was made larger because of scar tissue from the band. I said I would be happy at 150 heck today I would be happy at 160 ! 150 is still overweight though on the BMI scale for my 5' 3 1/2 height. This morning I was 188. At this point I easily have an extra 50 lbs to lose. My highest weight ever was 260, I was around 230 pre band surgery and I got down to 139, I maintained between there and 145 for years.

Hoping it's temporary? Try to get back to the newbie mindset. Pretend you were just banded and have the post op protocol. Liquids, then transition to soft foods then regular foods. Are you going to get fluid back in eventually or look into a revision? Why did you have an unfill? Good luck. I've heard that it's a difficult time but NOT impossible to stay on track after an unfill.

Band07 I just took a look at one of your old post. It states that you are 175 but want to be 150 and you are considering a revision. No judgment, I'm just curious, are you considering surgery to lose 15pds? I didn't know at such a low BMI a revision could be done. Again, just asking. Your old post also states that you had the sleeve in 2013 and you have since gained 10 pounds. And that you have never really felt a restriction and can eat whatever you want... Is it possible that your surgery wasn't performed well or there is a decrease in its function because you are a revision from band?

I'm not sure why you refuse to believe this can happen but here are a few more for you that were not prior lap band patients and are not me. These are actually revision surgeries of those who had to be resleeved. ImageUploadedByBariatricPal1429317110.749143.jpgImageUploadedByBariatricPal1429317122.380683.jpgImageUploadedByBariatricPal1429317131.348455.jpg Never did I say I REFUSE to believe it's possible. It's my OPINION that if the procedure is done correctly, a sleeve will not stretch significantly. My opinion is based on my experiences and those of the sleevers I know, most of whom are 3-5 years out. This is also what I was advised by multiple surgeons. It's my OPINION that your opinion has been vastly influenced by your own experience (understandable). Your thread here - http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/334573-sleeve-to-mgb-low-bmi/ - opened my eyes to your situation. I do hope you find the success you are seeking.

@@Erica Brownlee glad to hear your going to get what you need to get things moving again! I'm in the pre op stage and as I research more I'm finding more people with the sleeve having the same issue as you. I've decided to go with the bypass because I'm not sure I'll have an opportunity for a revision in the future if need be. Do you have to requalify to get this done or is your Dr just going in and doing it??

I am L&L nite nurse as well. Had revision of lap band to sleeve on 3/18/15. Have been off for recovery. Start back to work this sunday. Very nervous about it. Still can't tolerate protein shakes. They make me super nauseated. Haven't needed caffeine at home. But know I will when going back to work. Was a diet Dr pepper. Plan coffee or ice tea. But that water with caffeine sounds good idea. Will be advancing from pureed diet to soft food diet as I return to work. Down 23 pounds. And feel good so far. Have been walking a couple days a week to build up stamina. Surgery was done laproscopic. But still nervous about over doing it and causing herniation or internal damage. I am released for full duty by my Dr. Thanks for your ideas and suggestions. Especially from 12 hour night shifts!!

If you're asking me, I know insurance sometimes pays for revision from band to sleeve, personally though Iv been self pay for all of my surgeries. I don't know if they pay to resleeve.

How do u revising would insurance approv thate

I'm revising to MGB with Dr. Rodriguez in Juarez on Thursday !! Scared and excited

Hi! I was sleeved in 2012. I never made it to goal, and put on weight thanks to a medication that makes me hungry all day, slows down my metabolism, and messes with my hypothyroidism. I've seen you post on other threads, and was wondering, what doctor did you finally decide to go with Band07? I'm seriously considering going with a revision soon. Any info on specific doctors you found would be great. Thanks!

I'm not sure why you refuse to believe this can happen but here are a few more for you that were not prior lap band patients and are not me. These are actually revision surgeries of those who had to be resleeved.

I amj so sorry h that your are going through this. Sometimes, you need to, just sometimes, exagarate the poain a bit. I do NOT men flat out lie. what I am saying is you need to have in your doctor's history, how bad the bnd is hurting you. How you feel. So when the insurance company person who goes through hundreds of these a day, look at it and can say. "well this person ha been back and forth the there pcp.many complaints and complications with the band. It will be cheaper for us to revise then for her to keep going back and forth to the doctor's plus meds". This is how they think. I had to jumo through many mnay hopes not for bypass but for my tummy tuck I got 4 weeks ago, today. I was denied 3 times. Then I got a hold of paper work with HOW to be approved. Tjhye changed it from 12 months post op to 18 months... Done 3 viits to your pcp with skin issues. I had complained for over 1 year about the skin rashes but never had made an appt. just for that. So Done Then I needed to hhave the plastic surgeon write a letter and pictures of the skin. AND my pcp had to write a letter. Done Done and Done. It took 7 weeks and I got approved. Just don't give up!!!!

I revised from RNY to SIPS (loop ds/sadi) 3/16/2015

So this is YOUR sleeved stomach, one that is atypical because you already had a band and are now revising to a bypass? I have heard that people who are first banded and then sleeved have more "issues" than those who are first sleeved. I'm not sure your xray is a fair example of a stretched sleeve.

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In the same boat. I had my band in dec 2010. I haven't lost that much and still need to lose 50-60lb. I keep vomiting and am miserable. I spoke with my doc today about revising to the sleeve (or bypass). Which he reccomendation the sleeve for me. He actually removed ALL my fluid today (which I was not expecting). Now I am worried about gaining. I haven't gained in a bit but I haven't lost either. He said he is doing more and more band to sleeve revisions. I really hope due ton he go it to g complication my insurance will ok the procedure. I can't afford it myself and as of right now I don't qualify for it. Bmi is 35 with no comorbidities. He did say it would be slightly more risky due to the scar tissue the band has caused, but said it should be ok. Keeping my fingers crossed.