I was just wondering for anyone who got a VSG in Canada or the USA if your surgeon first took out your band and then made you wait. I see some have waited 6 months in between - that seems sooooo long to me (patience isn't a virtue I admit it!!).

Then I see alot of VSG posts that say their surgeons did it at the same time.

Does anyone have any experience with this - especially with old bands - mine was done in 2003.

Thanks

Glenda

I got my band in May 2008, and my surgeon is planning on doing it all at the same time. (I say planning, because there COULD be issues that prevent that, but he said he hasn't encountered anything bad enough yet to keep him from doing that.)

There are a few variables involved. I had my band placed in 2003 too. I just had revision surgery a week ago. I am so happy to have that thing out of me. In my case I have had the liquid out of my sleeve for a few years. It's just been sitting inside of me doing nothing. Before the surgery started, my doctor told me that if there was significant damage, he would take the band out and then send me home for about 4 months for my stomach to heal. He recommended before the surgery to do an endoscopy so I would have an idea of what I am dealing with before going into the surgery. However, I chose to pass on this, because I didn't want to spend additional money and no matter the outcome of the endoscopy I would still want the band removed. I just wanted it out of me. Damage can mean different things....i.e. erosion, significant scar tissue or some cases the tube from the band can grow into other organs. I think someone posted on here that the tube had wrapped around or grown into their liver. In my case, I did not have any of these issues (thank god), but a little bit of scar tissue. So, my doc took out the band and did the sleeve. I am so happy!

Have you had any erosion issues or other issues? Sometimes, pain or fever are a sign that there are problems. Do you have the liquid in your band or is it empty? If it's empty, how long has it been empty? These will all be considerations as to whether your doctor will perform the removal and placement of the sleeve all at once. Of course, it also depends on what your doctor feels conformtable doing.

My surgeon essentially gave me a choice, but recommended two separate procedures. Here was the reasoning - the risk of leaks is much higher for revisions from the band then normal sleeve surgery. I knew leaks were bad, but reading some of the recovery stories on this board, I have concluded that sometimes they are REALLY bad.

The reason for increased incidence of leaks is due to scar tissue and swelling. From what I understood the scar tissue is both thick and doesn't heal quite like "virgin" tissue does. The thickness means sometimes they don't get as good of a staple line. The swelling is just from having a foreign object wrapped around your stomach. He also said that some times there is alike.. an "encrustation" which he tries to peel away.

So, he prefers at least 30 days between because it allows at least the swelling to go down. I am not really sure how much it improves the scar tissue.

I thought i read a study that there really wasn't much difference in outcomes between doing it all in one versus two separate ones, but i have decided to follow the surgeon's advice. I am pretty scared of a leak and hope to minimize the odds.

Thanks guys. I have not had any Fluid in my band for about 2.5 years. Mine is also just sitting there - although I still have pretty good restriction and can still vomit somedays - when other days I could eat a horse!!! I do have very low grade pain in my port area. A surgeon that I spoke to on the phone said it could be the beginning of corrosion, but could not tell.

I had a barium swallow a week and from what the doctor could see - all looked well. I am booked for an endoscopy as well.

I have an appointment on 7 September here in Canada, but if it is going to take too long I may well go to Mexico to have the revision done. I was asking because I have a feeling that here they will send me home to heal before have the sleeve - but I won't know until my first appointment. I have just ready so many different stories. Again thanks

Glenda

Haven't had my revision yet, but my surgeon does them in two surgeries about six weeks apart.

I had a horriblly messed up lapband (Slip, broken apart tubing, and at the end I couldn't swallow) and I had the band taken out and sleeve done at once. I also had a hernia repaired. I really think it is up to your surgeon. My doctor is a revision specialist, so he has lots of experience and almost always does them at the same time. Your safety is most important. Hopefully you can have them done together. I am excited that you are taking this step to get the sleeve. It really is such a great tool that has changed my life!!! I wish that for you too!

Congratulations on getting that band out. Most of the time, it's done all in one surgery. The endoscopy will definitely tell if you have any complications that would prevent the surgeon from doing it all at once.

I got my band in 2006 and my revision to sleeve Jan. 2010. The revision was done in one surgery - in addition my doc removed my gall bladder and fixed a hiatal hernia I didn't know about either. But I didn't have an endoscopy, which might have found that ahead of time. It can certainly all be done at once, but I think it's a case-by-case thing based on what's going on inside.

If all looks well and your doctor still wants to wait, I might go ahead and look around for a new doctor. There are plenty of us who had revisions done in one surgery with no problems.

Thanks ladies - you are just such a source of positive information.

I am having a few days away this week and will make up mind while relaxing. I may well go to the surgeon I have chosen in Mexico. Like I said I am impatient - but also reasonably smart (so I like to imagine) and try to do my homework. I always find the best source is the people who have been there done that - like you guys.

Glenda

I was not as lucky. I also had my band in 2003,I went to Mexico to one of the best Doctors there to find out that my band was 90% eroded into my stomach, apparently it had been that way for a while. I had no pain and no obvious symptoms, the endo or atleast a barium swallow before surgery is a must! Unfortunately I have to wait 6 months for mt stomach to heal. Hope you have better results than I ,but always be prepared.

Donnie H.

I'm so sorry to hear about that Donnie. On the positive note, aren't you glad that you decided to get the sleeve? When you think about it, the sleeve saved your stomachand life. By deciding on sleeve surgery, it caused you to find out about the damage. Maybe you would have gone for many more years with the band doing damage and not knowing it, since there were not any apparent symptoms. I know you are probably sore from the surgery, but aren't you glad to have that thing out of you? I was soooooo happy to have mine out....what a difference. The band is great for some, but it is not for everyone.

I know 6 months seems like a long time, but let's hope that it flys by. I know that emotionally this is really hard. Yes, I did have everything done in one surgery, but going into the surgery I did not know this for sure so I have an idea of how you feel. If nothing else, you know that you have a good surgeon, because he is not taking any unnecessary risks by doing the sleeve too quickly. Just concentrate on getting healed and then you will be back to get the sleeve in no time.

I am having my LAPBAND removed and my revision to a sleeve done next Wednesday Aug. 17th. Band installed July 2009 but never achieved any restriction for two years. Have lost 83 lbs but just thru dieting and behavioral modification. So, the sleeve will have to continue my WL in the future. PreAdmission testing all done and I am good to go for the surgery.

I'm so sorry to hear about that Donnie. On the positive note, aren't you glad that you decided to get the sleeve? When you think about it, the sleeve saved your stomachand life. By deciding on sleeve surgery, it caused you to find out about the damage. Maybe you would have gone for many more years with the band doing damage and not knowing it, since there were not any apparent symptoms. I know you are probably sore from the surgery, but aren't you glad to have that thing out of you? I was soooooo happy to have mine out....what a difference. The band is great for some, but it is not for everyone.

I know 6 months seems like a long time, but let's hope that it flys by. I know that emotionally this is really hard. Yes, I did have everything done in one surgery, but going into the surgery I did not know this for sure so I have an idea of how you feel. If nothing else, you know that you have a good surgeon, because he is not taking any unnecessary risks by doing the sleeve too quickly. Just concentrate on getting healed and then you will be back to get the sleeve in no time.

Im definately glad to have the band removed! The damage from the band was very bad and yes my decision to get sleeved very well could of saved my life. 6 months seems like a long time, but Im already planning for the surgery later this year! I feel like I have completely healed from the surgery, I feel soooo much better now that the band has been removed.

My band was removed and I was sleeved all at once. Thank God! I would hate to have waited!

My band was installed in Oct 2007 and removed in February 2011. My sleeve was placed August 10, 2011. My surgeon said he could've performed a direct revision but I had chickened out at the very last second. I waited 6 months but I believe it was for a good reason. The scar tissue is softer if you wait between, easier to manuever/peel around and the 6 months allowed me to see exactly what I was up against, as far as weight gain, if I decided NOT to have sleeve surgery.