I think I asked this same question when I was researching the band.....

Is there anyone on here that has personal experiences to share after being "sleeved" for several years?

The band seemed like the thing to do Feb 2008....not a lot of complaints or problems (or none that I distinctly remember). Now pretty much everyone you talk to who has had a band for greater than 1 1/2 or 2 years is having some sort of nuisance issues or had removal, etc.

I am seriously considering the sleeve, but I dread getting 2-3 years out and having issues that can't really be reversed. (I had my band removed in March due to slippage and have no problems resulting from my 2 years being banded.)

Anybody's thoughts are appreciated....shellieb

Hey Shellie, I had a band as well, and only had it for 8 months. I've had the sleeve nearly 11 months, and I can tell you that the 2 procedures are completely night and day.

Here are some links from obesityhelp of patients that are 2-4 years out. Most of the long termers end up just going on about their lives, and rarely post. We really don't have any long termers here that I can think of off the top of my head except for 2. Maybe they'll chime in as well.

At the bottom, in the research links, you can see a study by LapSf Dr. Cirangle that is for patients 5 years out.

Also, you can research gastrectomies for stomach cancer and ulcer conditions as those have been performed for decades upon decades. I did that and it helped me realize that the sleeve was the way to go for my revision.

Best wishes in your research. I wouldn't change one single thing about my decision to go with VSG. I love my life post-op. I have absolutely zero issues eating, drinking, or any other problems. Grant it, I'm not that far out, but my future looks pretty bright at this point. I'm pretty optimistic about my future based on the research I did.

Long-term Sleeve Experiences - 2 Years

on January 15, 2010 9:11 pm

Diligence-is-always-required

Stalls-Happen

Update-from-a-2-Year-Post-Op-VSGer

2-year-surgiversary-and-feeling

Two-and-one-half-years-post-op

TWO-YEARS-YALL

Just-Passed-My-2-Year-Surgiversary

questions-for-post-ops-2-years-out-or-more

2-years-out-food-amount-info

anyone-2-years-out

Happy-2-year-anniversary-to-me

2-years-post-op-TODAY

2-5-Years-After-a-VSG

Everday-life-at-2-5-years-out

2-1-2-year-update

Has-it-really-been-2-years

2-1-2-year-update

Two-Year-Surgiversary

2-year-update-portrait-of-a-heavyweight-a-bit-late

Two-year-surgiversary

2-and-1-2-years-later

2-years-since-my-surgery-any-advice-on-face-lift

2-year-post-op-pics

Two-Years-Before-amp-After-Pic

2-year-update-portrait-of-a-heavyweight-a-bit-late

Thought-you-might-enjoy-an-update-with-a-few-pics

Busybusymom-is-back-2-years-post-op

TWO-YEARS-BABY

Any-old-timers-still-lurking-the-boards

Long-term Sleeve Experiences - 3 Years

on June 8, 2009 10:43 pm

Three years out

Three and a half years after Vertical Gastrectomy My Story

A quick 2 year and 3 year VSG update

Third Year Surgiversay

Not always easy but always worth it

Very Discouraged 3 years out

Links for researching the VSG

on March 15, 2009 11:18 pm

Here are some links I've collected when I was researching the sleeve.

LapSF Educational presentation to FACS - includes some 2 year results

LapSF Two Year Study

LapSF Five Year Study - abstract only

LapSF Five Year Study - presentation (requires Windows to play)

Literature review on the sleeve - requires $$ to get the full text unfortunately

Sleeve best for over 50 crowd

Video of a sleeve with lots of education discussion

Video of a sleeve that is more about the operation

Ghrelin levels after RnY and sleeve

Ghrelin levels after band and sleeve

Diabetes resolution in RnY vs. Sleeve

Comparison of band to sleeve - literature review

tomorrow I will have my sleeve for one year! Having my band out and getting my sleeve was the smartest and best thing I've ever done for myself!