Hello!

In two weeks I am getting my lap band removed due to my dilated esophagus. It's literally double the size

The surgeon told me no one in that office will do a sleeve conversion until after a year of healing.

Is that a true case for ALL Kaiser hospitals?

I've read some people get a conversion only after 3 - 6 months of healing and don't know if this is just a Kaiser rule. Thank you.

There is a difference between what a HP requires, and what a surgeon considers safe practice. A surgeon may always elect not to take on a particular procedure or patient, even if that procedure would be approved for that patient.

I hope this helps!

That is not a Kaiser rule. If someone there said it is a rule, then that is just that particular location. Kaiser does band revisions on a weekly basis. I know two people who had it done last month at Kaiser (I met them in the Kaiser Options program) and my revision surgery is scheduled for December 7th. It will be done in one surgery.

That is not a Kaiser rule. If someone there said it is a rule, then that is just that particular location. Kaiser does band revisions on a weekly basis. I know two people who had it done last month at Kaiser (I met them in the Kaiser Options program) and my revision surgery is scheduled for December 7th. It will be done in one surgery.

Was your esophagus really dilated as well??

Yes, my esophagus is dilated. I have one final appointment with my surgeon on December 3rd before the actual surgery on December 7th. He would like me to do the gastric bypass instead of the sleeve due to my dilated esophagus and my minor case of gerd. My heart was set on the sleeve but I might have to go with the bypass. I will know for sure which surgery after my appointment on the 3rd.

Update: The surgeon said I would need to wait 6 months after band removal to get the bypass but he could do the sleeve the same day so I am going with the sleeve which is what I wanted anyway. The reason is that the bypass requires them to cut in the same area where the scarring is left by the band which is not safe (scarring causes tissue to be thick there and it needs time to heal) whereas the sleeve allows them to cut in a slightly different area making it possible.

Update: The surgeon said I would need to wait 6 months after band removal to get the bypass but he could do the sleeve the same day so I am going with the sleeve which is what I wanted anyway. The reason is that the bypass requires them to cut in the same area where the scarring is left by the band which is not safe (scarring causes tissue to be thick there and it needs time to heal) whereas the sleeve allows them to cut in a slightly different area making it possible.

Oh wow! See that's what my little brain thought too. It's not the esophagus... It's the stomach.. Apparently it's the scare tissue or something that has to heal. I wish I had your surgeon! Ha. I'm just hoping my esophagus with shrink in no time. ???? Thank you very much for your update!