Hi... i know this has possibly already been covered... but i suppose this is my story...

I had lapband surgery in July 2007.... lost 20 kg... and my band erroded on 12 months resulting in m having it removed in July 2008.... Now 12 months on and having kept my weioght off for 9 months... and now having had a weight gain of 8 kg... approx 16 lb in the last three... it is time for me to rethink my surgical options...

I alternate between rebanding or sleeve.... my against banding is that it may erode as quickly again...

My against sleeve is that there is metal staples ....

I would be interested in others thoughts and stories as to what decisions they made....and would appreciate the help

My surgeon is open to doing both surgeries, and he wants me to make the decision to what is best for me....

Heather....

Stapes are titanium, not metal and with time, tissue grows over them and encases them - you don't even know they are there, unless of course you choose to focus on that thought all the time. I would rather have titanium staples than plastic foreign objects (the band/port) in my body, especially when the band has already eroded once and had to be removed.

Just my thoughts! -- Good luck on your choice.

I had a couple of options when I was considering my revision from band to sleeve. My port was flipped, and was causing the band to tug on my stomach. I hated every aspect of the band (except the first 6 weeks) and only had it in for 8 months. I could of had the port replaced and repositioned along with the tubing, but I didn't really want to deal with it possibly happening again. I opted for the sleeve, and couldn't be happier to have gotten rid of the band.

This would be a hard decision, I think I'd probably be quite emotional about it rather than logical and feel about that band that if it failed me once, it would again.

Not necessarily so, but then who is to say it wasnt something about your surgeon and his methods or even about your body that caused it.

On the plus side of the sleeve, there's none of that. And the negative, i dont believe included staples, more things like its non reversible, non adjustable, you may have problems down the track due to factors like being on acid reflux medication long term, nutrition issues from such a small food intake long term etc etc. And I dont even know the facts on those things, its just that were I to be sleeved, that's what I'd be researching.

But some titanium staples v an entire band and port - less to go wrong with that in my opinion.

Read the stories that all of us have posted who have had revision surgery from band to sleeve.

Once you have the sleeve, after care is pretty much over. No erosion, no fills, no unfills, no chance of a slip, etc. I could go on and on. Life is so much better with a sleeve.

My band failed twice. Like you I had it fitted in July 2007, repositioned a year later after it slipped and within 3 months, through no fault of my own, it had slipped again. There was no way that I was going to mess about with it again after that and only considered VSG or RNY as options for me as I was gaining weight. Had I not been able to have any further surgery at all I still would have had the band removed as I couldn't stand it any longer.

Also, I was told by a piercing artist that titanium is the purest 'metal' you can put inside your body so I wouldn't even worry about that, especially after having that band and port inside your body.

Hope that helps and good luck in your decision making xxx

If it eroded once, it will erode again, IMO. I would never put in another band after an erosion. I would only do it if the band developed a mechanical problem -- like a leak in the bladder or tubing.

I have always been told if you suffered erosion once, you are at a higher risk for future band complications. In my opinon, the band is just too much work and there are too many problems involved. For those who have success with it, I couldn't be happier for them. But for people like us, the sleeve is an amazing option well worth considering. I have not once regretted my revision.

That's a good way of putting it Mac. If the band failed, I'd not hesitate to have another, if something about my body and the band together caused the problem, then I'd think very hard about another type of surgery.

Thanks everyone for your responses.

Susan, my surgeon doesn't generally offer to re band, however a well known colleague of his does, and does so on the premises that the risk of re erosion is the same as in someone new.... My surgeon also states that there should be no long term effects from my band being 75% eroded in regards to scarring due to the tissue that the stomach is made off.

However I have strong reservations in regards to rebanding and have been lucky enough not to have to think about this for 12 months... I lean toward the sleeve, however perhaps because I am a nurse I overthink the insertion of metal (titanium staples), and the risks, as well as never being able to have an MRI.

I am fortunate though to perhaps live in Australia... as our health system works differently to yours... and with the initial cost of $5000 that I paid my surgeon when I had the band any future care is covered by medicare (Government based health care) and my private health insurance.

I have to say I both like and respect my surgeon, and he totally wants me to explore what is the best option for me.......as there is limited acadeamic liturature to base a decision on, and currently the sleeve isn't done as regualarly as bands are in Australia... which is whay i come here....

I found my post by accident as i had notifications....

I had my sleeve in September 2009, and lost approx 25 kg, didn't have a heap to loss as i had kept most off after having my band removed....

Did have some complications from the band, which has caused adhesion, and an abcess was found intra op.... I still get significant abdo and back pain due to this...

Unfortuantely through out the post op period i restarted smoking, and have now given up... but like most who have stopped smoking i have put back on 5-8 kg... i think essentailly i ave been inhaling sugar... so now it is time to get focused and kick that back off again