There seems to be some difference of opinion by some as to whether the band is meant to be permanent or temporary. While it can be removed or revised to a different WLS I am not aware of anyone in the medical profession, especially those putting bands in, saying that they are meant to be temporary.

Would you have the band put in if you were told it wasn't meant to be permanent?

I think that trying to maintain by removing the saline would be the best option. This way if you see yourself putting the weight back on you can go back and have a fill. I have met people who have not kept up with their weight loss Dr. and put all their weight back. If we could control ourselves we would not have a weight problem in the first place. Good luck.

When I was banded in 2006 we were told it was for life. Now the manufacturers actually state an expected lifespan of around 10 years.

The reason is that the band itself should not deteriorate but that in a great many people, scar tissue can build up and cause tightening. If this happens too much, removing Fluid is not sufficient. This complication was not widely known or exoected when Ibwas banded but is probably the most common cause of problems.

I am nine years post-op and fine. I hope to stay that way and will be devastated if not! But I have already (at 6 and at 7 years post-op) needed tiny amounts of saline removed.

Can you please provide the link to the information about which manufacturers are saying this? I would be interested in the information.

Thanks.

I will try to find it. It was Allergan, manufacturers of the Lapband not the Realize band. It never used to be on their site but appeared about three years ago. I read it in the form of a copy and issue from their information to surgeons and haven't still got that but I can remember who showed me so will try to track it. At the time Ibaked my surgeon and he agreed he had been tokd it. I argued fiercely at the time with the ex-banded person who showed me as I had been told it was fir life, zi still hope mine will be. Allergan didn't, as I remember, say it HAD to b removed. Just that ten years was a likely length of time.

My personal surgeon has had his for 8 years now, they are permanent unless something goes wrong.

When I was banded in 2006 we were told it was for life. Now the manufacturers actually state an expected lifespan of around 10 years.

The reason is that the band itself should not deteriorate but that in a great many people, scar tissue can build up and cause tightening. If this happens too much, removing Fluid is not sufficient. This complication was not widely known or exoected when Ibwas banded but is probably the most common cause of problems.

I am nine years post-op and fine. I hope to stay that way and will be devastated if not! But I have already (at 6 and at 7 years post-op) needed tiny amounts of saline removed.

Can you please provide the link to the information about which manufacturers are saying this? I would be interested in the information.

Thanks.

Cleosmom. I feel very unscientific! I repeated a statement without checking it still exists. I can find no trace of the statement on their site and have asked others to look with the same result. So my apologies for inadvertently misieading you. I can only say that some time ago, maybe a year or more, a poster on a different forum posted what purported to be an extract from the Allergan website making this statement. If it ever was there, it is not there now. I have e mailed Allergan for their comment and will let you know if/ when they reply,