After visiting my surgeon today for my consultation. He recommended the sleeve for me. Has anyone had the band converted to a sleeve or really know anything about it? Thanks

I'm curious, why did he recommend the Sleeve over the Lap Band?

Regardless of what your doctor prefers, which WLS do YOU want?

The surgeon said that many WLS are beginning to phase the band out due to the addition maintenance and future surgeries required bc it is just plastic and it won't last forever. My insurance will only cover ONE surgery a lifetime so if it failed I'd be screwed...(his words not mine)

Well, he's right on one thing, there is no guarantee that your band will last forever. But, the complication rate is actually much lower than the Sleeve or Bypass. Granted this is just my opinion, but as much I would hate ever losing my band at least having it removed is an option. If you get the Sleeve and something goes wrong you can never get back the huge portion of your stomach they cut out.

I might also point out that many surgeons push the Sleeve or Bypass because they're the money makers. They make far more off them then they do the Lap Band.

The fact is, only approximately 5% of Lap Band patients have serious complications by no fault of their own. That means if you follow the rules and do what you're supposed to, you have a 95% chance of never having complications. Those are darn good odds.

Here's a couple studies that prove it:

Weight Stays Off Long After Lap Band Surgery

Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding In 2000

Consecutive Obese Patients: 12-Year Results

Best wishes with whatever you decide!

The sleeve fails too.. So if that fails your screwed anyway..

But just a little info..

If your band slips, leaks, or erodes.. A majority of insurance companies consider that a medical emergency not an additional surgery.

Andddd

As u can read on this board, people that were banded years ago, lose the weight, gain it back, then 4-5 years later.. Are starting their journeys over (with the same exact band) just by adjusting their fills and eating a proper band diet.

You can seek a second a opinion sounds like your surgeon prefers sleeve for his own reasons.

I looked into other options such as the sleeve, but found that is too risky for me. The surgeon I talked said that with the sleeve, your stomach can still stretch back out over time, which requires another surgery to correct. With the band it is meant to stay in forever, but is reversible if needed. There is the possibility of complications with any surgical procedure, but I just fill more comfortable the stats with the Lapband. The sleeve is a newer procedure so there isn't a lot of long term data. It may be good to get a second opinion. I actually talked to three different surgeons before I made a decision.