My doctor told me the rate of complications is higher then a virgin sleeve, but he really didn't have a specific percentage. He thought it was probably in the general range of 5% but it sounded like there wasn't much published on it.

This recent, but small study of revisions had a 25% complication rate - yikes! Complications were either leak or excessive bleeding.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21866377

If anyone wants a reason to bother with finding an experienced surgeon with a good track record - well, I guess those numbers might convince! I am curious how much variation there is between various centers or practices because I sure haven't felt that 25% of the people that post on this board had complications.

Thanks for sharing Jane. The stastics are scary but glad to see that folks are looking at them so that patients have better information going into it. I am waitin 6 months after an eroded band removal for my sleeve...hopefully the time in between will Help minimize risk.

I am a revision patient....and I took a good long time researching doctors to do my revision just for that reason, the high complication rate....I finally decided on my doctor and when I told him how I vetted him, he was impressed, he said I knew more about him than most of his patients....after our first meeting, I prayed prayed prayed for God to guide his hands during the procedure....I also was very strict on myself during the liquid diet he had me on (did it for 3 weeks instead of the 2 he wanted me to do it)

I am determined to be a success...I am very happy with my progress so far...

I waited 2 years to do sleeve after the removal of my band. I didn't know there was a higher rate of complications until I had one. It took over 1 month to be able to even have a sip of water. I am 5 months out and glad I went through it.

I can imagine the scar tissue, as well as the complications the patients getting revisions have had with the band make it a much more complex procedure. Definitely a good reason to make sure your doctor has a lot of experience as well as experience with revisions.