Hey Bandsters..Do you guys think we should be banded forever or at some point should we take it out? What happens when we get in our older age will the band cause us problems or is it meant to stay in for the rest of our lives? I shouldve asked my doctor this but I didnt really think of it till I just had a debate with a close friend of mines. She said if I cant lose weight without the band if I didnt have it I will regain all my weight without it. What is your opinion?

The lap band is supposed to stay in for life, unless you have a complication that requires its removal. The generally accepted thoughts on it is that if you remove it in the future even after losing lots of weight, you will gain it back, even if it is slowly since you would be able to go back to eating the volume of food you did prior to getting the band. Hope this helps, Stacey

Even unfilling it substanitally generally leads to weight regain.

Its frustrating, I had to have all my fill out for nine months to have surgery and chemo. I have kept off a weight loss of over 100lb for five years and I have definitely changed my lifestyle habits, not the least of which change is a huge commitment to a lot of vigorous exercsise. I didnt regain weight in that time, but I had to work VERY hard not to and by the end of the nine months, was really beginning to slip. And I was having chemo at the time!

So even at the low BMI of 20, if I had to remove my band for any reason, I'd want another one!

You can always have it removed when you're older if you're prepared for the consequences. Of course if you get really old then people generally start to get skinny again anyway.

It's supposed to be in for life.

I'm not sure why people tend to freak out about that, it's no different any other artificial part or implant people have. Heart valve stents, fake hips and knees, filters, heck even fake boobs. Like the rest, the band was made to last a lifetime.