I'm scheduled for surgery on Nov. 20 to have my lap band removed. It was put in December, 2007. The band has never been right or comfortable. I still throw up occasionally...even after all fluid was removed. During an endoscopy, I found out the band has eroded into my stomach. It is about half or a little over visible. Surgeon has said they're easy to take out through the mouth if they've eroded. Has anybody had this done. He says they'll cut the band in half, slip it out of the pocket that still exists and pull it and the tubing out through the esophagus. Sounds terrible! The only incision will be to remove the port and cut the tubing. That will leave open ulcers in the stomach and I'll have to follow with ulcer meds and diet.

Sorry to hear this happened to you, I don't know if I'd want my band taken out through my mouth though! Sounds horrible. I'd get a second opinion from another surgeon. I am glad I did when I developed a hiatal hernia in my 7th year and I got my old band removed and new band replaced at the same time.

My orginial surgeon was not skilled enough to help me, so SOME surgeons are not skilled as others, I've leared the hard way.

I've also heard and knew of a few banded people to get rebanded again after an erosion, but it takes time after about 1 year for your body to heal and patients stay away from things that can irritate the stomach such as NSAIDS and other stomach irritants. But some people are more prone to infection in the body such as diabetics and they may have more problems with the band.

Wishing you much better health.

Just like I just did with our other post, Dr. Moazzez is NOT an unskilled nor uneducated "bad" physician. If he chose not to do a surgery that he has not been trained in, it makes him responsible, not unskilled. Some doctors are specialists, like cardiac surgeons. You wouldn't ask a cardiac surgeon to reroute your GI system would you?

I'm getting a tad touchy on this subject. Dr. Moazzes, his excellent team, his program/education and his after care is what got me to where I stand today.

Oh my I'm so sorry to hear that. No, I haven't had this to happen because I'm only almost three years post OP. I'm just sending hugs your way.