I'm wondering for those who did both at the same time, did you unfill your band prior too ? Was it recommended by your doctor To do so ? Do you feel it made a difference with surgery ? Thanks !

You will love the sleeve compared to the band. IMHO there is simply no comparison. Good luck and god bless!

Thanks for the encouragement. I'm very excited to finally do something permanent. One of the selling points for me about getting the band in the first place was that it was reversible. What a fallacy that was. And not only that, who wants to reverse back to being fat? Was I going to wake up one day and say I'm tired of being thin, I miss being fat? Of course not. Now that I have this band I am miserable. Lost 2 jobs due to being out sick too long. All this for 35 pounds lost? Anyhow I am so grateful that I can have a revision to the sleeve when my band is taken out. Hopefully. I look forward to a permanent solution rather than the roller coaster ride called Lap Band.

I had the all in one, too. I never had a good fill and always struggled with the band. I unfilled a few months prior to revising. My surgery went great.

I am VERY Excited~ Having My Revision July 17th~ Doctor Michael Blaney is my preferred surgeon. I am having all in one surgery also!! I lost about 40 lbs in the beginning with My Realize Band~ Then suddenlyit seemed like I could eat anything I wanted, as much as I want!! I have gained all back but maybe 6 lbs~ I wanted the vertical sleeve in the beginning but My insurance wouldn't cover it because it was still in experimental stages!! Had Realize band place April 19th 2010...Thank You all for encouraging words!!

Had mine I filled first then the surgery at one time. But the only reason they unveiled it was because the wanted to see if there were any complications wo the band because I was constantly vomiting. Otherwise it wouldn't have been in that order. Surgery was March 20, 2013. I have lost about 45 lbs( this is in addition to spine surgery twice in 6 months). So I have not been able to exercise. This revision was the best thing that could have happen to me.

My NP emptied my band about a month ago. He put me on Phentermine to help control my appetite until my revision which will be next month on Aug 5th. It def has helped. I've even managed to lose almost 10 pound with it over the last month.

My doctor will be taking out the fluid months before surgery. I have had chronic heartburn for three plus years and need the esophagus to heal prior to revision surgery.

My Doc didn't empty my band & removed the band & did the sleeve the same day.

I had my lap band (nightmare) for two years, btw I had so many problems with mine. After one year i had to have it revised because it prolapsed and once it was done the doctor never refilled the band,but i continued to have many problems with it, not being able to take deep breaths, having the worst time ever just to get a burp out,& most of all the worst shoulder pain. I am truly thankful for yhe sleeve now down 15lbs 9days out! Good luck on your journey

So happy that I found this thread. I had my lapband in 1/2008. Did well and lost 70+lbs. but at the 2 year mark started having more problems. I am so tired of not knowing whether a meal will go down or stay down. I have changed to Kaiser and they plan to take out the band and convert to sleeve same day 9/12/13. I pray he can do it all it one surgery.

I love hearing that people dont suffer with PB's, sliming or pain with eating. I used to say pain is a good motivator not to eat, but can't do that forever.

Can't wait to get back on the losing track!