I am strongly considering gastric banding. In reviewing comments on this site and other available information, I am concerned about long-term complications. Are there people out there that have had their bands for years? It it possible to have a band for a lifetime or do the majority of people eventually have the band removed or replaced? Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences!

I fully intend to go to my reward with my band just where it is now. Mine was installed at a Center of

Excellence, which I consider the very best of the weight loss centers and an guarantee of success.

They screen and educate their patients to assure you the very best of experiences. The CoEs are

not the only game in town, but they make a person's decision a lot easier.

I went to Cedars-Sinai in LA and had hardly a moments discomfort there or after. So if I'm asked,

I don't think you could go wrong with a Center of Excellence.

As far as band longevity, today's bands have been improved to a point where I think they'll be trouble

free, installed properly, for a very long time.

You need to do as much reading, from responsible sources, as you can and talk to patients of any

surgeons you might consider. The surgery is easy, done correctly so good luck and I hope you do well.

I also had mine done at a center of excellence. I'm only 2 weeks out but I couldnt be happier with the level of care I have recieved.

I think we all need to remember that long term complications are something that little is known about. The Lapband is not new, but has been improved since first use. Honestly, who knows what will happen another 20 years down the line. The worst is that it will have to come out. Other than that, no one knows about what unforseen complications will arise so long down the line because in the world of medicine it is still a relatively new thing.

Thanks to all for sharing your experiences. I am currently working with a center for excellence, but hadn't considered the implications as they relate to future complications. I'll dig around to see if I can find a study or two or three

The complications from having a lap band on a long term basis dont come near the problems that you are storing up being overweight .. to me there was no comparison at all, the lap band wont cause you anywhere near the life threatening health problems you could face with obesity.. If ever i had to have my lapband removed i would say good bye to a good friend who has helped me lose the vast amount of weight i needed to and have no regrets about this process at all good luck..

Well said, Cazzy. When I begin second guessing myself about WLS, I need to remember the sentiment you have shared. I have type 2 diabetes as does my dad. My dad recently had double bypass heart surgery and suffers from neuropathy. I have diligently attempted to lose weight on my own and have managed to be successful only in the short term. I need a long term solution that allows me to lose more than 30 pounds. A solution that might help me prevent some of the complications my dad has experienced.

Well said, Cazzy. When I begin second guessing myself about WLS, I need to remember the sentiment you have shared. I have type 2 diabetes as does my dad. My dad recently had double bypass heart surgery and suffers from neuropathy. I have diligently attempted to lose weight on my own and have managed to be successful only in the short term. I need a long term solution that allows me to lose more than 30 pounds. A solution that might help me prevent some of the complications my dad has experienced.

i really hope u find what will work best for you and just go for it .. honestly i had been on a plateau for a couple of weeks, then last weekend i got flu i didnt do my normal routine of exercise but decided i would do all those housework jobs that one hates like cleaning the oven, wiping paintwork down, i was glad of the break from cycling everyday and now my house is all shiny clean and flu is gone and this week 4lbs down , how can anyone not be happy with that..

Good luck to you whatever u decide to do

I'm looking at a a likely complication just under 4 years from being banded. I am going for an endoscopy tomorrow to determine if I have a leak or an erosion.

I don't know how common this is, so won't even talk about statistics but I will say this. WHATEVER it turns out to be, I do not regret getting the band. I lost 130% of my excess weight with my lapband, and as a result, am now low risk for diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, in fact all the things that my family has a significant history of.

I have spent the last 3 + year running around with my 5yo son, I have cycled 40kms easily, I have worn the tiniest bikinis and the most beautiful dresses, and I have learnt more about eating well, exercising and hunger than I would have ever learnt without my band.

Even if I lose my band, I cannot regret getting banded. So long term complication or not, I would have done it all again in a hearbeat,

I'm looking at a a likely complication just under 4 years from being banded. I am going for an endoscopy tomorrow to determine if I have a leak or an erosion.

I don't know how common this is, so won't even talk about statistics but I will say this. WHATEVER it turns out to be, I do not regret getting the band. I lost 130% of my excess weight with my lapband, and as a result, am now low risk for diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, in fact all the things that my family has a significant history of.

I have spent the last 3 + year running around with my 5yo son, I have cycled 40kms easily, I have worn the tiniest bikinis and the most beautiful dresses, and I have learnt more about eating well, exercising and hunger than I would have ever learnt without my band.

Even if I lose my band, I cannot regret getting banded. So long term complication or not, I would have done it all again in a hearbeat,

Amen to that lellow good luck with the problems !