I am a nurse in surgery at a local hospital. We have just started doing lap bands. I had mine done at another hosp. in Aug of this year. One of the doctors was going to take a band out of someone (put on by another md) and was overheard saying the life expectancy of people after lap band is age 67. This doctor does not recommend them due to this fact, stomach erosion and other possible future complications. This scared the heck out of me and another coworker.

My question is this:

1. is there anyone out there who has had there band longer than 3-4 years and how are you doing?

2. What can I do to prevent stomach erosion (other than the obvious don't eat like a pig).

3. has anyone else heard of this before

It's all that is on my mind, I'm afraid I didn't research this enough and 5-10 down the road I'm going to have to have it removed.

I have a confession to make, I'm a soda drinker (doesn't cause problems) could this add to my erosion/complication risk.

Please help put my mind at ease!!:cry

I am unbanded, but I can tell you what my surgeon said at the seminar I went to. He said that they band was basically like any other mechanical device that is inserted into the body, and to expect it to last about as long. He said that anyone being banded should expect to have the band replaced at least once in their life, since it should last 7-10 years. Like any mechanical device, it can break down.

laurend- if you don't mind me asking, was your unbanding due to erosion? Do you regret having it put in?

Hm. In hearing that (and having no idea where he got that information from) I would take it from a different point of view. First of all, people who have been morbidly obese at some time in their lives likely have some health problems resulting from that that are unfortunately not reversible, the damage is done. Secondly, since people who are overweight don't always lose all their excess weight when they try ANY type of diet or surgery to get it off, those left over excess pounds can still cause some health problems.

Lastly, I think as banding becomes more popular and well-known, people will start knowing about the band sooner, get it done younger, and perhaps have less co-morbidities and problems prior to it. That should statistically raise the life expectancy rate.

That said, as soon as I'm banded I am going to try to pay it off as quickly as possible and be saving my money because I do KNOW there are no guarantees and I may have to replace it someday.

Basically, the info doesn't scare me. Heck Until I got approved for the band I didn't know if I would make it to age 35 let alone 65! I'd love to be able to hope for another 30 years beyond that!!!! (Though more is always better

I'll let you know in 7 years if I'm still here! I don't think he has anything to base that statistic on. He could be talking about overweight people, but those we a lapband? Its not like it is pumping our heart or anything. If it causes problems out it comes. Monitoring of it should catch erosion before it kills us.

Guess I'd better start living my life real fast, tick tock.

Was he talking about the life expectancy of the person or the band?

Was he talking about the life expectancy of the person or the band?

ahhhhh, good question

I ask my Life insurance company. They are betting that I live longer with the band than without. I would bet that they have a lot better information than my doctor. The idea that I might enjoy life a lot more is not something that the insurance cares about, only that they will collect money and not pay a claim.

I'd be interested in stats someday showing the life expectancy of bandsters vs. people who didn't do something to lose weight.

As far as how long the band lasts, I'm not sure anyone really knows. I've read that it's made from the same materials as things like replacement knees and hips, but since they don't do the same type of job as those joints and have the wear and tear, they should last longer.

The doctor who is performing my surgery on dec the 18th is banded and he told me he wouldn't have had it done if he hadn't been researching it for years on years and he is over 50

I was also told the band could last my whole lifetime if I take care of it I am 22

My girlfriend of 7 years had WLS 3 years ago. She was a BIG CHICKEN but when her doctor held a mirror up to her face and told her " Look at that face, now go outside and look for one that looks like that 10 years older" it may have been rough but she got the idea. Now almost 200lb lighter and much happyer. I was at last able to afford WLS and looking to more happy years with her.

I misspoke in my message. I wasn't thinking and put "unbanded" instead of "not banded". Hope that clears things up.

I'll reply to this thread in 2 years time!!! hehehe I have heard of stomach erosion...thank god i haven't experienced it...yet (touch wood NOT) try and stick by the rules...however, I have to admit...I don't always...but I am still loosing weight and take one day at a time. That is how I survive on lap band.

Thanks for all the responses. I got one thing cleared up the doc said life of the band is six to seven years oops!

After reading a bit more a lots of thinking, I'm not going to worry about it anymore. This band is in me now, I'm losing weight and I'm happy about that. I guess it's going so well I'm waiting for the "rug to be pulled out from under me".

Who knows what the future holds for ANYONE banded or not. Thanks again:)

Thanks for all the responses. I got one thing cleared up the doc said life of the band is six to seven years oops!

Hum, wonder where he got that figure? That's not what I've heard at all.

All I know is that my life expectancy would have been far less that 67 if I had continued down the unhealthy, MO life I was leading. I honestly don't think the band has been around long enough (even the ones done around the world before they were approved in the US) to determine what the life expectancy is. I think it was mentioned earlier that life expectancy may be lower due to damage we have done to ourselves by being overweight in the first place. Too many factors IMHO.