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Hi there. The advice you are getting on going to a seminar and speaking with a surgeon about your particular health concerns is absolutely the best advice. If you go in with your heart set on one approach and then find out there is a better one because of your situation, it might take you a while to get your head around it. Once they know your medical and emotional situation, they can make an excellent suggestion for you. Don't be afraid like some about rerouting your stomach or removing part of it. They have been doing these procedures for some time now. Be open to all of your options and most importantly the best option for your situation. An example would be, if you suffer from reflux or Gerd, you do not want the sleeve as it can make that situation much worse. There are a lot of revisions form the lap band to either a sleeve or RNY. If you have diabetes and other comorbidities you really need to understand all of your options. Go to a bariatric center of excellence team and attend a seminar. That is going to serve you best. Good luck on your journey! I hope u have a great new year!

I had a c section and a lapband. and still had a laparascopic RNY. My roomate had adhesions between his band and his liver and other organs. it took them 4 hours to clean up and he still had a laparoscopic sleeve. I don't think i've ever heard of an open one being done (in the last 10 years or so). Unless you are over 600lbs, dr Now's show is not a good resource. Your own doctor is. adhesions are very routine in lapband revisions and those are done laparascopically every day.

No, it's not a sleeve, nothing is removed. From my understanding it's kind of like a whole bunch of mini plications from the inside. A few things bother me about the procedure that would make me not want to choose it for myself..... 1) it's marketed for people wanting to lose 20-50 pounds. I had way more than that to lose 2) it doesn't even come close to providing the restriction that VSG or bypass does. Or even as much as the lapband did for those of you looking at revision. 3) it leaves a whole bunch of folds in your stomach held together with anchoring devices. Who's to say all those little anchors won't erode through your stomach just like the lapband has done. This potentially leaves the patient susceptible to ulceration and even perforation several years down the line. 4) it just hasn't been around long enough to know all of its results, both good and bad. This is the main reason I went with the sleeve. They've been doing gastrectomies for over 100 years, with dozens (if not hundreds) of followup studies, so there weren't going to be any "surprises" by choosing VSG.

I had never heard of it, so I looked it up. Apparently, it is a fairly new procedure that has only been performed on humans for about a year and a half. However, I am quite intrigued by the concept and the fact that it can be done without incisions and can be revised more than once, if needed. I am 64 now, and actually, if that had been one of my options when I had my sleeve in 2013, I would have gotten the endoscopic procedure. Totally new concept!

I got my band on February 7th 2008 and was extremely successful with it. I started at 277 and my lowest weight was 183. Man I looked great!!! Slowly but surely, I began to be able to eat more so I would go in for fills but they didn't really seem to have much effect. Last October my doctor recommended an upper GI to make sure everything looked okay and sure enough they discovered that my band had eroded into my stomach. I then had an upper endoscopy to confirm it and the pictures are lovely. Not! The recommendation was to have it removed and revise to another type of procedure. Fortunately, our company was doing our annual benefits re-enrollment at the time, so I upgraded my insurance and also did a flex spending card for the co-pays. After the beginning of the year we submitted the documentation to the insurance company for the predetermination and after an initial denial they approved the appeal. Also, according to their policy, they will also cover repeat surgery if the removal was due to erosion or slippage so I am also having to make up my mind about which procedure to revise to. I was initially completely sold on the sleeve but there is also a new procedure called banded plication which I am taking a close look at. Anyway, I finally have my date for the removal of my band. It will be gone on March 29th. Then I will have to wait at least six weeks before revising to whatever surgery I decide to revise to. I have gained back a bunch of my weight (currently at 240) so I am eager to get back on plan. My problem is that I eat because I can. Without that tool inside of me, I don't feel like a need to comply with anything so I don't. I have learned to depend on it. Once I have it, I am am exemplary patient! I will check back in after my surgery and let everyone know how it went. I am specifically posting my experience here since my removal is due specifically to erosion and I want others who may eventually have the same situation to have something to refer to. As far as pre-op goes, a week before my surgery I will have my consult with my surgeon and he will give me diet instructions at that time in order to shrink my liver. I will also be doing the surgery at Shands Hospital in Jacksonville and will be staying overnight as he wants to be able to observe me for any leaks due to the perforation and repair of my stomach. The surgery will be on Thursday, I will go home on Friday and I will probably wait until Tuesday to go back to work just because I don't want to push it. I was up and around fairly quickly after getting my band placed so this should be pretty comparable as long as there are no complications. If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask and I will try to answer them to the best of my ability. I want to be able to help others who may be going through the same situation. Karen

that's why I changed my mind from the band to the sleeve....once I made that decision the apprehension and anxiety I was feeling about the band - just disappeared. Now for surgery and to make my excess weight disappear as well!! congrats to getting your revision surgery! glad your insurance covered it.

Karen, I understand your hesitation. There are folks here who've had the banded plication and done very well. There might even be a banded plication forum. I have the AP Standard band. There is a Vertical Sleeve Talk forum like LBT, you might wander over there. There are lots of band to sleeve revisions there. And many happy sleevers. Does your surgeon have any idea why your band eroded? My surgeon says erosions are pretty rare with these "newer" bands that we have.

Sorry to so late to respond. Just learning how to reply. Lol. Nevertheless one side did not heal properly and the inscision keeps opening like a sore. They didnt do the back fat so a revision needs to be redone. A belt lipectomy seems to be the only thing that can fix the problem. I also have a rash on the other side as well. Seems to me that if my cut had of been higher then i wouldnt be having this problem. So i am doing the waiting game. I feel thay i am going to get it. Thanks for the concern

No, I don't mind you asking, but it's a long story, so I'm going to make it short. Early this year I learned I had a badly dilated esophagus and signs of a esophageal motility disorder call achalasia. All that resolved when we removed all the fill from my band, but my surgeon felt that adding fill back in would be asking for trouble and strongly recommended removing my band. I decided to revise to the sleeve because there is no way I could manage my weight for the rest of my life without some kind of surgical tool. After my surgeon removed my band, she couldn't do the sleeve revision because of a stricture we didn't know I had. I went to a new gastro doc who said I don't have achalasia; that my problem is stenosis (thickening of the tissues) caused by longterm "silent" reflux that I've probably had for 25+ years. He dilated the stricture, and in August we're going to do the sleeve procedure. I hate, hate, hate that I lost my band. I think the sleeve is going to be OK, but I can't expect it to work the way my band did. I'm just trying to make the best of the circumstances. Life is like that.

Had rny as a revision from a vertical band. Surg was June 26. In August my pouch had completely scarred closed and I had to have emergency surgery. Then a stent and another stent and more emergency surgery. 2 endoscopies with dilation and I am finally free and finished! Question now is can I pick up and exercise - doctor says yes off handedly like of course. I am cautious though. Should I try walking only first? I belong to a gym or would do home DVD if anyone has thoughts please let me know. Foodwise I am eating chicken, Beans, edamame, soft food with Protein. I would love to know if you think 80-100 g of protein is really a better plan that the 60 g my doctor ecommends as minimum. Thanks for any advice. Beth.

You had a revision and they typically lose slower. You are doing really well losing 20 lbs in less then a month !!! Congrats and keep up the good work.

Billy, This is exactly what I've been experiencing for the last year. Now I find that there are about 20% of the banded whose bands never work. Yes, we can get them so tight we can't eat...but that sense of hunger never goes away. According to my surgeon, that is not in our head...it's because the band is not stopping that 'feed me' hormone that the stomach produces. The band sits on two nerves and at some point, tightens enough (and that will vary by individual) so that the stomach says "oh I'm full" and stops producing that hormone. That's why some people never need a fill and the band alone does it...and why some people need a tighter restriction on those nerves. For some of us, we can get so restricted we can't eat and the nerves are still not talking to those hormones. Perhaps a talk with your surgeon about a revision to a sleeve might be in order? .

Kiki, I am right there with you. Lap band, lost 100 lbs then my band slipped. I was converted to sleeve on May 28. So far I have lost 18lbs. i am so glad to have that port out. No more stuck food and vomiting. I just hate that now I have to lose this weight once again. This time will be for good. Sticking to this plan forever. So far the hardest part is giving up my Diet Pepsi and bread. I wish you both great success and I hope your revision goes as smooth as mine has.

I'm in the process of having a revision from band to sleeve. Anyone else have it done? Did you do better with the sleeve? Is the weight loss slower or about the same as those who have the sleeve for the first time? I did well with the band for a few years, but years of complications, food getting stuck all the time, I've gained all my weight back and then some. Just curious how others are doing that have gone through a similar situation.

hey- revision sleeve yesterday w/ dr aceves. doing great! recovery is better than i thought. the drain causes discomfort, but they give meds when i need it. i have an epidural which is great for pain, but keeps me from walking so i have been choosing lower dose sublingual pills just to take the edge off. very tired, but ECSTATIC that my band is gone forever!!!!!!!!! dr. said i has some scar tissue, but not too much, so everything is good. no nausea, no vomitting, i feel very lucky. i will try to do a better post in a couple of days. happy and sleepy--- lara

Hello all! I just got back from an appt. with my surgeon. He seems very happy with my progress. He said I didn't need to loose anymore weight and I looked "terrific!" He asked if I wanted to loose any more. I told him that I thought 5-10 more pounds. My original goal was 150 pounds, but that was based on my high school years. Now, my body is shaped different and I think I might be too slim at that weight. Now my Goal weight is 165. I am now officially 10 pounds away from my new goal weight! I am VERY excited and hopeful. I justed wanted to share with the MOST supportive group ever!!!!!!!!!!1 Thanks, Shawn

@2021NewMe First congrats on making yourself a priority. Know that your thoughts, feelings, and fears have been shared with what i would say is 99% of the people on here. Start by saying i'm now 52, 5'2" and 120lbs. I started this process back November 2009 (right before Thanksgiving) at 232lbs 44bmi with the lapband 14cc. I LOVE MY BAND... she and i had a wonderful relationship. She was the best thing I had done for myself. Like others, I had dieted for years only to lose and then gain it all back plus some. The sense of failure was some days overwhelming. That carried over to the WLS. The thought of failure. With any WLS you have to be 100% committed to the entire process, not just pick and chose what you want to do. It's hard and I still fall short and have weak moments. Like the other night, I ate chips and two cookies... The guilt is real. There are so many inspiring people on this site. I've been here since 2009, on and off. But if you search you will find a lot of people have the same issues as yourself and just having those people is, somedays, everything. BP is my secret place. I don't tell anyone i come here. Makes me feel free to ask questions without feeling embarrassed or judged (although some people can be). I, personally prefer the don't tell anyone route. When i had my band i told nearly everyone and always felt like i was being watched and judged. Like they were waiting for me to fail yet again. In 2017, I had one of my worse days.... i had to have my beloved band removed due to a slip... she was my BF, the absolute one thing in my life i could count on. I did my best to continue eating the way i had for years, but Tina (band) wasn't there to help. Over the next 2.5 years i put back 30lbs and got back up to 173lbs. I had always known i need WLS help, but 1) couldn't find a dr that would do it because of my low bmi... 2) couldn't afford it. But as fate would have it.... My divorce (26 years) property settlement was final and i finally found a dr that would do the revision..... So Sept. 28, 2019 at 173lbs and 14k in hand... I revised to the sleeve. Only my husband knows. I didn't tell anyone, not my kids, family, friends, co workers.... and this is sooooo much better. My org size was a 18-20.... down to a 6, then up to a 10-12..... Now I'm a size 0-2

Darn it my husband is working that weekend so I will not be able to attend as I have kids but hope you all have a great time! Hope to see some of you at the October 6th luncheon in Waterdown. Donna Banded by Dr. Cobourn/06 Revised From VBG/87 251/136/125 goal

OMG! I can't believe I finally found some of "my kind"! I thought I was the only one! I have searched and searched and couldn't find others. I never was NOT hungry. I lost 15 lbs on the liquid/soft diet the first month (while starving) and have slowly gained back that 15 lbs after 2.5 yrs. It is a constant struggle and I am so MAD that I have not lost one pound! I thought maybe it was because I had my band removed and sleeved all in the same surgery. My doctor just tells me I am taking in too many calories and need to reduce my carbs! Duh, if I could have dieted I would not have paid so much for a sleeve. Now don't go flaming me - I know I have to work with my sleeve and make healthy choices, but something is definitely wrong! I have been on Nexium (or it's precursor) for 22 years. In other words, I've always had acid reflux issues. Maybe you are on to something! I'm going to try the gaviscon. I hope everyone will keep posting your success or failure with the antacids. I have to have my gallbladder out in a few weeks and my doctor is going to give me a price to "revise" my pouch if he sees it needs it once he gets in there. I have spent so much on first my band (which I lost 90 lbs with) but had to have it removed due to sever reflux problems. I gained back 40 lbs once it was "deflated" and that is why I decided to get the sleeve. My doctor removed the band and did the sleeve all in one operation. Thanks, Monica

Don’t know yet! I got my date. Revision will be on 04/18.

I am seeking a revision from the lap and.I initially decided on getting the sleeve.I was sure for the last few months.I did my research and really thought about it And now I have decided on the RNY.Just changed from a dr that only does lap and and sleeve to his associate who does it all.Do your homework ,ask a lot of questions and change if you need to.Do what's right for you!

I'm having my vsg October 21st I search him before going to a seminar in May 22 I heard you won't get a heart felt beside manner from him so I looked more to (Dr yakto) I hope I spelt that right because I heard his beside manners are better but when I discussed it with my lapband doctor he told me he recommended Dr Roslin to me because he better fitted for my lapband revision to vsg & I spoke to a couple post op vsg & ds patients that told me Dr Roslin the best which I saw online also just don't look for a best friend lol I only had two office visit with him which was my consultation & this Wednesday coming my final pre op visit testing I did was bloodwork, urinalysis & ugi disk & written report get a pcp letter from my primary doc & a six month weight history which was provided from my lapband surgeon being that he was monitoring my weight no my primary all this was needed because I was trying to get my insurance to approve so being that your self pay idk if your gonna need all the documents I needed this past Friday I did my pre op for my surgery bloodwork again because the last testing was more than 30 days ago chest x rays & ekg all three were done in about 2hrs but 30mins went to me registering being that it was my 1st time at the hospital we did my pre ops at lenox hill hospital rather then my state of nj because we wanted everything fast as possible being that my surgery was scheduled on the 21st this Tuesday I see my primary doctor so that I can get my physical & history forms filled out I know visits after surgery are necessary to check up on healing process/weight loss & after 6mths visits are to check on weight loss for my pre op everybody was friendly I got lost & two ppl offered to help me find my way to radiology & the woman to help wit my registration was the best I laughed wit her she was professional but I let her know she could do my registration & enjoy work she kept being quiet when her co worker was taking to her because I was present but I let her know I like to have fun at work so she should too & I wouldn't stop her that I'm not a uptight patient but as for self pay Idk how I helped in the best way

I’m in the East Bay and also about to have my sleeve revised to a bypass for GERD. would love to connect!!

Keep up the work I am having a band revision on March 30th w/ Dr. Domkowski in Sebastian, FL. After a year of band issues and now a slip.