Hi there,

I'm new to this forum. I'm at my wit's end and I thought I could vent to you all to see if anybody can commiserate with me

I was banded in Toronto, Canada on Dec 30, 2010. All was great, all went well until I started having liquid rising up my esophagus at night time. It turned out to be acid reflux, I had my band loosened a bit, and I went on my merry way. The acid reflux went away, and I was feeling great, except I gained about 30 pounds in the last 5-6 months. During this time, the liquid started coming back, it wasn't acidic (it didn't burn at all), so I was tested for H-Pylori - turns out I tested negative, but I was on a heavy dose of antibiotics just in case I did have the bacteria. I felt 100% better - eating better, sleeping all through the night. Well, the liquid is back now, and I have no idea what to do. I called Slimband (the company I used in Canada) and they told me that even after I paid the $16,000, my account was inactive and that in order for me to get a fill or de-fill, I'd have to pay $1,500 for 6 months. According to their contract, they only do these procedures for 5 years, and my 5 years is up on December 30 of this year. I lost it! I'm all on my own, I can't afford another penny and I'm so stressed it isn't funny.

Has anybody had a similar experience? Is there anything I can do?

I am so sorry to read this, @sydneygirl.

I also had a negative experience with Slimband Toronto (customer service) and pulled the plug on the lap-band surgery I had scheduled with them before it ever happened.

If you signed a contract for a 5-year follow-up, they are within their rights to honour that, although it sucks for you.

FYI: You should know that Slimband monitors this forum and will approach you with their legal team (as they did me) if you say anything negative about them and ask you to remove your post(s). Just a heads up.

If you are in the Toronto area, I recommend consulting with "Smartshape", (otherwise know as SWLC - the Surgical Weight Loss Centre), in Mississauga with Dr. Chris Colbourn. I was banded with SWLC 8 months ago (December 18, 2014) and had superb results. The follow-up has been outstanding. There is NO FEE for band adjustments. If Slimband is not giving you the love, see what Dr. Colbourn has to say.

Incidentally, I strongly feel $1,500 for 6 months for fills is absolutely RIDICULOUS, since they take 10 minutes. Money grab if I've ever heard of one!

Hey Professor,

You just made my day. I regret using Slimband, they've just left me high and dry and I can't afford them any longer, so I will take your advice and see that doctor in Mississauga. I really appreciate your feedback and sympathy!

If they see my comments about them on this site, they can sic their legal team on me. What have I got to lose? I'm not saying anything that isn't true

Have a fabulous weekend. I'll keep you posted with my progress.

I am going to privately message you!

Are there any class action suits started regarding Slimbands deficient patient care?

I'm not sure. I haven't heard anything. They should be sued and taken off the market.

I found this doing a search. Yikes. Sorry to anyone who got scammed or injured by these thieves.

So I won the lawsuit against SLIMBAND IN TORONTO how do i collect

So to make a very long story short, I paid 16,000 dollars to the SLIMMBAND CLINIC IN TORONTO, TO INSERT BY LAPOROROCOPY AND GENERAL ANESTHETIC A DEVICE WHICH WAS TO CONTROL MY APPETITE AND HELP ME TO LOSE AND MAINTAIN MY WEIGHT, FOR MY HEALTH.

I was blind sighted, I should have done my homework, this very clinic and doctor had jumped ship on hundreds of other innocent unsuspecting, patients. I went through the courts and won the case against the clinic, big deal they shut their doors one week prior to my court date.

My only hope is to tell anyone who even thinks about this way of life in the Toronto area be certain it is not the same owner, nor the same doctor that took my money and left me with a nonfunctioning piece of silicone band in my abdomen. Three surgeries later and many heart aches and physical discomfort I had the monster removed.DO NOT BE FOOLED THEY HIRE SKINNY PEOPLE WHO TELL YOU THEY HAD THE SAME SURGERY. I HAVE ASLO BEEN IN CONTACT WITH PATIENTS THAT ENDED UP WITH SEVERE INFECTIONS AND MANY COMPLICATIONS.

https://www.bariatricpal.com/index.php?/topic/398746-So-I-won-the-lawsuit-against-SLIMBAND-IN-TORONTO-how-do-i-collect/page__view__findpost__p__4482030