I want to start by saying I was banded in Mexico with a 4cc Allergan band and in 9 months have lost 100 pounds and am at my goal weight as of this week (yeah for me). However, tomorrow I will have it removed and hopefully revised to a newer band by a surgeon in the US who I have seen for aftercare these last 9 months. I have been unfilled for over a month now because was having problems with keeping food down and I still do not have any relief. Today barium swallow showed nothing getting through the band. Not even a trickle. I am not sure if my insurance is going to cover revision but hoping for the best possible outcome.

So I am eating humble pie right now because I have been an advocate of surgery in Mexico and the 4cc band. My apologies to those I might have steered in that direction and those who tried to tell me it had a high complication rate.

Thanks to this board and the wisdom of the long timers for bringing your experiences and advice to the less educated even if we are hard headed and don't want to listen

((hugs!))

No one is going to gloat- and if they do they're a moron.

I'm so very sorry you are going through this. This is exactly why it makes me so angry every time I hear of someone getting the old 4cc band in Mexico. You trust your surgeon to do what's right for you and they make quite the hard sell why it's "better" than the newer, bigger bands. I truly believe they take advantage of the patient big time. As far as I'm concerned, you didn't screw up, you were another victim of Medical Tourism trying to make a buck.

I'm really glad you're able to get it replaced for a newer, bigger band. You've done so awesome losing so much weight despite your struggles. I'm sure it'll be a breeze by comparison when you get your new band.

Best wishes

Thanks for the kind words Missy. It means a lot to me.