Can somebody help me please if they have advise. My current weight is 338lbs with a BMI of 45. I have decided on the Lap Band because I am mortified of having my stomach permanently cut. However, most people have advised a sleeve operation instead of a band. As it is now, True Results has advised me of a $2100 cost with BCBS insurance. I don't know what to do but I know I need to lose weight. Can anyone advise? What is the protocol to follow for a lap band to sleeve revision if I feel the band is not working? Will BCBS pay for a revision? What are the conditions? Should I just go for the sleeve? I have a friend who has had the band and after losing an initial 23 lbs has gained 6 of it back in 4 months and this is not encouraging at all. I need to make the best decision. Please help!!!!

Thanks for your responses. Did your insurances give you any issues to convert to a sleeve? Was there any protocol or waiting time? How did you justify having your insurance pay for your conversion? Or did you pay out of pocket?

I had different insurance by the time I was sleeved . I kept hearing its gettong harder to have more than one bariatric surgery approved. I also heard of a lot of people that had to fight appeals to have thier band removed ...some lasting over a year. Also, I had insurance at one point that excluded and bariatric procedure so if I needed a fill or unfill, I paid out of pocket. $250!! Something I feared in that time was having serious complications related to the band, I worried any type of corrective surgery wouldn't have been covered since it was excluded from my insirance at that time. I want to note, im on soft food phase now and I noticed something. The feeling of fullness is much more natural feeling with sleeve. Band always caused pain....serious pain when I was just a little full. I also would throw up a lot...I think because the top part of the stomach is small and the stoma is very very small (the opening ur food passes from top to bottom stomach). Food passes much more naturally and fills the stomach much naturally with the sleeve. Im thrilled with thr sleeve, even though I was terrified when I first heard of it.

My band exp was negative. I wish I knew the failure rate then. I wasted thousands of dollars and had three surgeries. Now am waiting to see WL surgeon.