Hello! I need a little help or advice. Had my lapband since 2006. I lost 40 pounds which 30 I've kept off. Since then I've had 2 children. Had many issues with the band. I have an appointment next week with my Dr. I to plan on getting it removed. I'm looking to get Gastric Bypass Surgery. I do know already my insurance will cover it like they did my lapband. My question and concerns are what is the process? Do I have to do all the testing all over again. Is the process the same as getting the lapband approval? Also do they do the lap band removal the same day as the bypass? I'm pretty clueless to this so any info is appreciated . Thanks in advance

Hi, I had the band removed about three months ago, my insurance made me wait at least three months between surgeries. I did not have to go through the same process but they did repeat some things like the nutrition class and psych evals. They did not require a wieght loss but asked that I maintain what I was at.

My surgeron filed the paperwork and he asked for the gastric sleeve, he said depending on where the scar tissue is he would do either the sleeve or the bypass. It is the bypass that I want. So I have an appointment on June 18th to set the final details

Hi, I had the band removed about three months ago, my insurance made me wait at least three months between surgeries. I did not have to go through the same process but they did repeat some things like the nutrition class and psych evals. They did not require a wieght loss but asked that I maintain what I was at.

My surgeron filed the paperwork and he asked for the gastric sleeve, he said depending on where the scar tissue is he would do either the sleeve or the bypass. It is the bypass that I want. So I have an appointment on June 18th to set the final details

Thanks so much for responding! May I ask how was the band removal? Was it as an outpatient? Good luck!!

Yes it was outpatient, the port site was a pain, I took 2 days off from work

they will take out the band the same day and do gastric bypass for me

Whether you can have the band removed and the RNY done at the same time all depends on the damage/scarring from the band. I went in on May 7th expecting to have both procedures. To me it was the logic of "killing two birds with one stone." Well, when the surgeon got in, he felt it was too risky to perform the RNY. He removed the bend, repaired my hiatal hernia, and did a few other repairs. He wanted me to wait at least two months, so now I'll be having the RNY on July 2nd. The pain & problems from the band are gone--thank God. My surgeon mentioned that current research is indicating that performing the removal of the band & conversion to bypass in the same surgery can increase the risk. The scarring from where the band was makes the stomach thick and difficult to handle & staple--and no one wants a "leak." Each additional bariatric surgery increases your risk in following surgeries; "rushing" to do both in one surgery might not be the best route for everyone. I trust my surgeon totally. Although I was initially disappointed, I realized he made the decision that was best for me and an ultimately successful outcome.

I went in for RNY as my surgeon promised on 7/2. Surgron said adhesions & scar tissue too much to risk (even though he claimed he cleared this up on May 7 when he removed the band). He did not perform the surgery, so I'm stuck recovering from a non-surgery surgery,. The band and all the revision surgeries for the band has stolen any ability for me to ever have bariatric surgery. Just waiting for the inevitable now. People don't realize how much damage the band does internally to you until its too late. My advice would be to go straight to RNY if you need to lose more that 100lbs. The bariatric system is all about $, not about us. You won't know for years that the damage is. It's over for me. I wish all the rest of you the best of luck & be proactive when when you know things aren't quite right. Surgeons aren't Gods...sometimes they just put ego above everything else--but it's your gut that will tell you when something is terribly wrong.

jen_g so sorry to hear all you've gone through. I too will be a lapband to rny patient. My band was taken out in 2010 so I'm now praying the scarring isn't too bad and I can have the RNY. My surgeon isn't the surgeon who did my band. She did say if she goes in and there is too much scarring she may have to come right back out. Sucks but, I'm willing to try. She said for most of her revision patients she's been able to do the surgery but, their pouch had to be a little bigger to accomodate for the flap they sew to hold the band in place. She said she's try to take that down but, if she couldn't she'd have to cut below it. I just pray it works out.

Again so sorry you had to go through all that! I wish you the best.

My band I had in 2005 came out at the same time as my RNY was done. Thank goodness. RNY June 11,2018

And. how are you doing now? Feeling pretty good??

It’s going to depend on your insurance and WLC requirements. I am in class with a person who had a bypass 6 yrs ago and is doing a revision. Our WLC makes everyone go through 6 months of classes and a ton of test. The only one not required is a sleep study person already on a CPAP.

Your insurance company should be able to explain your benefits. Ask for your benefits in print, too. Your insurance company is the one running the show. It's their process. Some doctors' offices have their own requirements on top of what your insurance may require, but it's your insurance company that you need to deal with first. A phone call should do it. What insurance do you have?

This thread is more than 6 years old, until nurse4126 revived it on 7/1/18 (i.e. 4 posts above). I share this so you can tailor your comments appropriately.