Hi all...I am planning on having the Lap-Band surgery and am still trying to decide which surgeon I want to go to. I will likely be self pay but all of this information will be useful. I was hoping to hear from people who have had the band in place for a long time, hopefully five or more years.

Have you had any problems with the band or associated side effects?

Have you had to have it readjusted (not including fills)?

How long did it take for your weight loss to taper off and plateau at your goal area?

Have you had any significant regain (15lbs or more) once reaching your goal?

If you have any other thoughts or information for me I would most appreciate it.

Thank you.

I would recommend going to the thread, I'm here to help, in the mentors section. Instead of post-op, keep scrolling down to the mentors section, the one "I'm here to help" there are several women who have had the lap-band for several years, and would be willing to answer your questions.....good luck....A Happily Banded Woman!

Join the smartbandsters group at yahoo groups and talk to Jessie Ahroni there. She's been banded 12 years and works in bariatrics and has written a book about Adjustable Gastric banding.

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SmartBandsters

Thanks for the info and link. I will try the other section. I didn't know which section to post this in and this one seemed most accurate. I'll wander down there though! Thanks again!

Hi all...I am planning on having the Lap-Band surgery and am still trying to decide which surgeon I want to go to. I will likely be self pay but all of this information will be useful. I was hoping to hear from people who have had the band in place for a long time, hopefully five or more years.

Have you had any problems with the band or associated side effects?

Have you had to have it readjusted (not including fills)?

How long did it take for your weight loss to taper off and plateau at your goal area?

Have you had any significant regain (15lbs or more) once reaching your goal?

If you have any other thoughts or information for me I would most appreciate it.

Thank you.

I'm banded since Summer 2008 and am down 62 pounds. I have had 3 fills and 1 unfill. No problems and no re-gain.

I can truly say my only regret is that the surgery was not available 30 years ago. I'm not quite at goal (20 pounds to go), but having experienced no problems I am more than willing to let it take as long as it takes.

Because I will lose that 20 pounds. I am very confident of that.

The way I think about food has changed: the way I eat - very slowly ...what I eat - less garbage (although I could eat garbage if I wanted too...I just don't really want to)...where I eat - at a table not standing in the kitchen or sitting on the couch...how much I eat - amazingly so much less that what I used too and enough to be just fine with that.

I was a very slow to lose the weight and was somewhat disgruntled, but now, I would not change a thing. I feel great and I like how I look.

If you have health insurance that does not specifically exclude bariatric surgery, I would say to you please think about finding a "Center of Excellence" doctor's group. They coordinate everything for you, make sure you get all the tests, and will really go to bat with your insurance company. You meet with a doctor and together you decide how to proceed, The value of this surgery is becoming more evident everyday, you just may qualify.

GOOD LUCK!