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Depends on a couple of major things: 1. Your insurance company's policies. 2. Whether or not your doctor will do a revision all at once, or will require you to do it in two, separate surgeries. My insurance covered my band removal in March, and my doctor wanted me to wait 3 months before sleeving so that my stomach would heal - I had massive scarring and a heavily distorted stomach from living with a severe slip for 2+ years (long story as to why!). As soon as the band was removed, we began the process of getting insurance approval for the sleeve - at that point, I was considered a "new patient" in that I had to meet all of the WLS requirements as if I'd never had the LapBand. Luckily, the process was QUICK and didn't require too many hoops - I was sleeved exactly 11 weeks after my band was removed.

Hello My husband had the band put in mon 6/6/11, he passed the swallow test prior to being discharged from the hospital. I had to bring him to the ER that evening bc he wasn't keeping anything down. Then the next 3 days he had continuous vomiting, it was all foam and mucous. Then on friday the dr did a revision and it looked promising he was gonna be discharged the following day. Well he never made it home he is still in the hospital 1 week post band not able to even keep in saliva. He wants the band out ASAP. Anybody else experience this? and if so, how long did it last and what caused it.

When I got my lap band I went 3 years without touching a soda. But then I discovered if I poured it waaaay up high over my glass most of the fizz came out of it and I started drinking it again. I'm having issues with my band, but a barium swallow shows no slippage or stretching of my pouch. I've always contended that you'll burp out all the excess gas before you'll stretch your pouch, and it appears that it was true in my case, but as Briswife15 sez-YMMV. See what your surgeon recommends. Now hopefully soon I will be getting a revision from a lap band to a RNY and if the surgeon says "no fizz" I will drop it in a New York Minute!

The $16,000 that I spent on my lapband was well worth it. My understanding is that most private band surgeons will not accept OHIP coverage IF it ever is approved because they would have to accept the flat fee OHIP deems appropiate. Surgeons would not be allowed to charge an additional amount so it would not make it worth their while to give up banding privately. It all comes down to supply and demand - as long as people are willing to pay privately for the band the majority of skilled doctors will continue to have private clinics. Again IF OHIP ever starts to fund the lapband there will be a ton of people who will apply for it (including those waiting for RNY or DS) and there will be several years wait for it. Donna Banded by Dr. Cobourn/06 Revised From VBG/87 251/142/125 goal

Actually, you're wrong. It IS 100% reversible. If the band is removed your stomach simply goes back to the way it was pre-surgery. If you have damage due to a slip or prolapse, you may have some scarring, but it doesn't remove any portion of your stomach or re-route your digestive system in any way. Not so with the Sleeve, you can't replace a huge portion of your stomach that's been cut out. As for the Sleeve, people don't go in for reversions because they can't. More than half of their stomach is removed, there's nothing to revise. If you look at the long term statistics, people gain back weight with the Sleeve and Gastric Bypass just as often as with the Band, the difference being, a Band patient can always go back in and get a fill to start over. A Sleeve patient will have likely stretched out what's left of their stomach and pretty much be screwed. ...not to mention there's FAR less chance of major complications and/or death with the band. And the recovery time is half of that of the Sleeve. I respect your decision to go with the Sleeve and wish you much success, but your information isn't exactly accurate.

I'm curious, as to what the rules were with insurance companies that paid for revisions?

I am going through the steps now for the revision. I to have reflux real bad. I had it before the sleeve and now it is unbearable. One thing I didn't know about before having it in 2012. The surgeon is doing a barium swallow on Thursday to see how much damage is done. I always thought I was alone. Good to know it's not in my head. Lol

Now that I've chosen the RNY as my revision surgery it was reccommended by ladiesassie to ask about Protein shakes.... A person at work told me I should drink the already made Low Carb Slim Fast shakes- 20 grams of Protein and -0- sugar..... Is this something I can drink right out of the gate? would it be too sweet for me? Also what other types of drinks in powder form are GREAT tasting? I don't mind blending them up as long as they taste good. I really don't want to lose my hair ( My hair has already thinned out from the lap band) So it's important that I get in enough protein to keep what I have left :tongue_smilie: Any in sight would be very helpful to me. So let me know what your favorite high Protein Drink is- It must be sugar free though- I'm sure it will be difficult to find good tasting drinks that are sugar free.....:thumbdown: Hey you guys have a great Tuesday today!!!! Only two more working days left this week!!! :thumbup: Thanks again for your insight!!:biggrin2:

Hello All! So I am currently in the pre-op stage and I have completed most of the testing. I had originally thought I would choose the GS, but have started looking into the DS. They seem to be fairly similar, but with the DS adding restriction, thus increasing Vitamin maintenance. I meet with the surgeon in 10 days and have been reading very helpful posts here, as well as reviewing the surgeon's manuals for each surgery. I have considerable weight to lose (BMI 45). I once was down to 185 lbs by counting calories and maintaining a log, but slowly gained it all back plus extra. So, I am a little worried about making the right choice the first time, as opposed to having to potentially gain weight back and have a revision surgery. This is what led me to the DS, which is the highest "rung" on the surgery ladder per the surgeon. The vitamin regiments seem fairly similar between the two, with the DS adding ADEK (fat soluble vitamins). I don't think I would have an issue with the vitamin routine. Has anyone been caught between these two surgeries,and if so, which way did you go and why? Any and all comments are welcome! Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone! I just wanted to introduce myself to the forum. :-) My Story: After being sleeved on 8/12/13, I had complications with nonstop vomiting. No matter what I ate or drank, it would get stuck and come right back up. A balloon dilation, 2 surgeries, and after being hospitalized for 2 weeks, I was finally revised to RNY last Sunday morning. Even though this wasn't my initial plan, I'm still upbeat and looking forward to dropping these pounds!!! *Whoop* Good luck to you all!!! HW: 317 Pre-Op: 298 First Surgery Date: 289 CW: 283 Goal: 170

My personal experience has been that bingeing pre-op is an extremely bad idea. People will make up the excuse that "I'll never be able to have that again, so I better have it now!". THIS IS NOT TRUE. You absolutely can have anything you want to eat post op. The only differences will be that you can't eat as much AND you are just tacking on more pounds you will eventually have to fight for after surgery. You're only hurting yourself by doing this. I have had two WLS's. I did have the food binge before my lap band. Then a few months later I realized that it was all for naught because I can and did still eat those foods. In fact, I could eat more of that stuff than the good healthy food. They're called "sliders" for a reason. You won't get full on them. Then with my revision to the VSG I absolutely did NOT indulge pre-op. I already knew I had to go in with the right ideas about food. For anyone reading this, change that attitude. This surgery will save your life, but only if you get your mind right.

I've been out of surgery for several hours now. My surgeon said it was more difficult (band to sleeve revision) than he anticipated. Tons of scar tissue and the band was up around my esophagus, which explains why I was vomiting so much with it. As far as pain, I'm in MUCH less pain, especially gas pain, than with the band. I've already been walking around, I'm just super tired, thanks to the pain pump. Since the surgery was more difficult than planned, I have to have a swallow study in the morning before I can drink Water. I may also end up staying in the hospital through the weekend. Hopefully this is the worst of it!

Self pay if you went to Mexico (there is a lot of information on the self pay/Mexico board) is generally anywhere from $4-9K depending on location and surgeon. Most people seem to average around $5K. The best I've seen for self pay in the US was around $10K, so if you're not comfortable going to MX then there are self pay options in the US, and though you would likely still have to travel, it's not out of the country. They're more expensive than MX, but nowhere near the $44K mentioned. My insurance (expensive and usually great insurance) doesn't cover ANY bariatric at all. I chose Mexico because the hospital is 45 minutes from my parents house in San Diego and I am more confident in this doctors experience with lap band to sleeve revisions than the self pay doctors I talked to in my area (and he was much less expensive than my area as well obviously).

I had the band in Mexico when I was 20 in 2003. I lost all the weight Dow to 130lbs on average and maintained that healthy weight for all these years . I also had 4 kids in that time. Until this last year my little band issues became severe band issues. Especially acid reflux and back pain . I hadn't had water in 4 years. Only soda could go down. I had my band I filled 3 months ago and have gained big time. I'm now 167lbs . In 3 months:( my revision band to sleeve surgery is October 3. My endo is this Monday then liquid diet for 2 weeks. I totally get how you are feeling. All the what ifs and fear and tired of band complications.:(

Hello i will be travelling from Canada to Mexico. My revision surgery is also scheduled for May 26th! I will be going to Limarp which is where I had my vsg in 2018. They were great. have to say not looking forward to the extra 3 night quarantine hotel stay when I land back in Canada and then another flight to get all the way back home.

I am more comfortable with the least-invasive route possible. That was my primary reason for choosing the band. I think the sleeve is an interesting procedure, and will be interested in watching its long-term success/complication rate; it's still considered experimental. Which brings me to the second reason I chose the band: it's not experimental. And that leads directly to the third reason: my insurance won't cover experimental procedures! If, for some reason, I encounter difficulties down the road, I would consider revision to the sleeve if it turns out to be as promising as it seems. But I am confident in my decision to go with the band, at this point, and have no reason to think I will have problems.

I highly recommend this book for help on the eating issues. There are guides for what you should eat and when after surgery as well as recipes. Very helpful in understanding things as well. Amazon.com: Before & After, Revised Edition: Living and Eating Well After Weight-Loss Surgery (9780061242854): Susan Maria Leach: books I was banded on 9-4-09 and still can not eat more than 3 oz at any time. I am to get my first fill on 10-21, but not sure I want one!

I'm going for my revision May 5th Lapband to sleeve! I'm scared but excited!!! Wish you the best! Hopefully we will be ok and love our sleeve, the band worked phenomenal for me until December 2014 I started developing GERD, so let's sleeve up!

I read a couple of posts from people who were told by Kaiser that skin removal and other post bariatric plastics are not part of their plan. I don't want anyone to suffer for years as I did because of being told the wrong information! I'm learning to push back when told NO since often times the people on the other end of the phone tend to not have all the answers or are told to derail people with questions from learning the real truth in order to save $ Anyway, there was a class action in 2015 against Kaiser sparked by post WLS denials. And as it turns out this can have repercussions for insurance that systematically deems skin removal as an elective surgery that isn't covered in cases of extreme weight loss. Link https://blog.cvn.com/kaiser-ordered-to-broaden-reconstructive-surgery-coverage-after-class-action-trial https://legalnewsline.com/stories/510629463-calif-judge-rules-that-insurer-at-center-of-class-action-over-skin-removal-surgeries-must-broaden-coverage When I went to be evaluated for plastic surgery in 2017, we were told we could have one procedure. Dr said I didn't qualify for a panni because it didn't quite hang low enough, just to clarify...their measurement is 'abdominal skin must cover pubic region entirely'' which is BS with the years of skin rashes I have had. He said I just barely qualified for breast reduction surgery which I had 5 months later, the waiting list was long. He said I would be a C cup (from a DD) and I wasn't happy when I ended up a B but worse things could happen. I'm 16 years Post Gastric BP and should've had a revision 4-5 years ago when weight gain started creeping up, no longer going down... about 15 lbs a year since 2018. I could never break past 170 to reach goal of 155 but I'm goin to pursue the distal revision as of this week. It's now or never, I have to get a social life! The rule is you have to be at your goal and stable for months before a skin removal surgery will be covered by insurance so I'll have to wait longer even longer for that as consequence of procrastinating on a revision! I've been disabled with an autoimmune illness so I never returned to the job I enjoyed after the WLS. I didn't put much effort into pursuing solutions for skin removal after research showed it would be very costly out of pocket expense and not covered by insurance. So I haven't really felt the freedom of losing 140 lbs because I still cover up my body! No swimsuits, no sleeveless anything or clothing that accentuates the possibility of a waist, LOL. I wish I had the confidence of those who wear what they want, no matter their size! I've wanted to leave Kaiser to return the awesome Dr I previously had who actually listened and treated me like a human being. Staying with Kaiser only until these surgeries are done and I'm out of there! Kaiser ruling.pdf

I can't believe this is really happening. I'm only a week and a half away. Somehow I have gotten lucky and only have to do a 2 day pre op diet (I was expected at least a week). Between now and then i know I'm probably going to eat an insane amount of food. But I'm ready to say goodbye to the foods that I was constantly going overboard on. I'm at peace knowing I'll never be able to eat the way I am now ever again. This is what I wanted in 2006 when I got the lap band. But somehow I've ended up almost right back where I started. My pre lap band weight was 285. I'm now at 250. 50 of those pounds, I gained in the last 6 months. Let's get this show on the road.

Here's what put my mind at ease. You need to ask yourself how healthy you are right now (besides the obesity). If you're a relatively healthy person, then your chances of dieing on the table are very very slim...keep in mind this is an 'outpatient procedure' at many hospitals. Yes, things happen, but the mortality rate mainly involves those that were already 'dieing' and unhealthy and took the risk. The docs I picked here are known for taking on the cases that the other hospitals won't do (I had three Centers of Excellence here to pick from) like revisions, the super obese, etc., so their mortality rate was a little higher, but all their deaths were people that were already very ill. Now all that said, I was so excited to get my band, but anyone who tells you they weren't at least a little nervous is crazy...it's normal to get 'cold feet'. Hang in there; you'll do great! -BG

I'm in the same boat..... I had my band placed in March 2013, and now going to have it removed with a revision to a gastric bypass (most likely). My main band issue is horrible reflux. My throat and voice box are so inflamed from acid, my voice is hoarse all the time and I wake up coughing and try to swallow (what feels like) a glob of something in my throat. But there isn't anything to swallow; it's swelling from acid. Over the past year I've slowing had all of the fluid removed from my band, with the hope that the issue would resolve. It has not. I saw my surgeon yesterday to discuss all of my options. With reflux as the main issue, the sleeve isn't an option because reflux typically worsens. I was never interested in the sleeve, so I'm okay with that. I was originally scheduled for a bypass, but chickened out at the last minute and went for the band with plication. I did well initially; lost 70 pounds, but gained back about 30 over the past 3 years. My only regret is that I didn't go through with my original plan; to have a gastric bypass. My options are, to have the band removed and see what happens over the next few months. Or, to have one surgery; band removal, plication taken down and have the bypass done at the same time. I am really scared about having a bypass, but I'm also fearful that I will continue to gain back all of my weight; maybe more over time. I'm 5'1" and currently 185 pounds. It's just too much weight for my frame. And I'm 62, so there are other issues at this point in life. I'm all over the map on the pros & cons; dealing with my fears on both sides of the fence. Ugh..... I cannot believe that I'm still dealing with this issue! Lisa, I remember you from the Lap-band forums a few years ago. We were both banded in 2013. I'm so sorry to hear that you're having issues and the band never really worked out for you. Being sick all the time is NOT fun and I completely understand your fears about going to another surgery. It's a lot to think about

I have been having nausea and,vomiting since 2 weeks post op. I had a stricture that kept coming back and had to be dilated 3 times and I'm only 3months post op. I have been in and out of the hospital several,times as well. I was in the hospital 2 weeks ago for over 2 weeks. I was unable to take anything by mouth. They put a picc line in and started me on TPN (IV nutrients). Thy had to pull my picc line a week later cause it went bad. I was eating a clear/full liquid diet. Now I'm vomiting again and this time I'm having sever abdominal pain as well. I'm unable to keep much down and it all hurts even water. My surgeon has me on several medications but they aren't helping. He suggested I might have to have a revision done. Has anyone had a b anything like this? Or had a revision? Any advise would be greatly appreciated. I'm extremely weak physically and emotionally drained from all this.

Good question. And what do they revise? If your stomach is already sleeved, then they just it up now to bypass the stomach altogether? I'm not sure I understand revisions. Does the weight loss jumpstart again like it did with the original WLS?

First of all, anything is,possible...trust me. My story is very similar to yours although I really didn't have any issues with the band. My doc said that the band failed me, I did not fail the band! Lost about 100 lbs starting in 2007. It took many fills and tweeking to get me to my sweet spot. Found it and worked with it. In the summer my port started shifting so I went in for a port replacement and woke up with the entire band being removed due to erosion!!!! I was shocked, sad and feel like someone took the only thing that had ever worked for me in 30 years away just like that, snap!! I immediately began the revision proceed but with a BMI of 26, there was no way. I tried, I truly did to keep the weight off but at 50 lbs additional and 2 co mortalities I was approved for the sleeve. Had it done 1 week ago from tonight and it was the best thing ever. I have CIGNA and I had a tough time, but other people have had smooth sailing with CIGNA...I just can't figure them out. Make sure you find out if your ins will only cover 1 bariatric proceedure a lifetime. Sleeve is fantastic so far