My doctor (who has an amazing reputation in the medical community & WLS community) plans to place a band at the bottom of my sleeve. It's not like a lap band - there's no filling & unfilling - no port, nothing like that. It's more like a corset for the sleeve that stays in permanently. Is this something that most surgeons do? I've never heard anyone mention it so I'm curious.

I'm seeing Dr. Elariny and they wanted to do that same procedure on me but my insurance wouldn't cover both sleeve and band so I'm going with just the sleeve. Did you have your surgery? How did you like Dr. Elariny?

I don't know if op was sleeved by Dr. E. but I was and he is amazeballs. My surgery was 6.15.12 and I am down 89 lbs. I am at 175 and can't wait to hit goal. My recovery was super easy. Highly recommend. Love his office staff too.

I had the lap band and after that procedure' date=' I can confidently say that I would never have a band at the bottom of my sleeve. Even if it's not filled/unfilled it's still something that could possibly have the same side effects of a band - erosion, etc.

If the sleeve is hard to stretch to begin with (not that it can't be stretched) I really don't see much of a benefit.[/quote']

I totally agree. Everyday my band was in was one day too many. Love my sleeve as is.