Do they take the band off or is it something you have to always have even with keeping the weight off?

I'm just curious if 3 years down the road you still have to have it.

Well, have you tried diets before only to end up eventually gaining the weight back again? Old habits are easy to fall back into. Why would that be any different with the band? The band is for life. Once you reach goal, it will help you to stay at goal.

Wow, I did not know that. Thanks for the information.

I just got back(literally 5 mins ago) and my family dr gave me his FULL support for the surgery. My class will December 9th and I know I will find out everything but for right now I am just curious.

My dr did ask me if the skin grows around the band and if so what about in the future with that causing problems.

I would have never thought of that question.

My dr did ask me if the skin grows around the band and if so what about in the future with that causing problems.

I would have never thought of that question.

Everything is implanted under the skin, so I don't know what your doctor meant?

Some people think the port sticks out of you, maybe that's what he/she was referring to?

Some people are really prone to scar tissue/adhesion problems after any surgery, I know my mum had horrible problems after a hysterectomy with scar tissue joining everything all together and causing pain. Perhaps that's what he meant.

I thought it was actually the scar tissue that forms that helps to keep the band solidly in place.

For me, I'm pretty positive that unless I go and get a mega fill, my band's main advantage is my inability to gain weight. I really do seem to have to do 9/10 of the work I would have done previously to actually lose it - which is why I havent lost a gram in about 6 weeks. But I havent gained and for me that's huge. I was always pretty good at losing, it was keeping it off that was the problem.

I expect to have it for life. God willing.

Yes, it is designed to stay w/ you permanently. However, it is removable if necessary.

Honestly, I'm not sure the band has been around long enough to know how we'll all turn out 20/30 years down the road. I don't see much indication that it should cause us any problems, but time will tell!