I am having my band on Oct 11 and I read a lot about removal.

I believe the first gastric band procedure was performed in the mid 80s. The first LAP-BAND brand procedure, probably early 90s.

That is encouraging I read so many posts on people having them removed and not many on “here I am ten years later” I would assume the technology has only gotten better. So I am looking forward to being 80 and having my yearly fill lol J

There are a few comfort factors to keep in mind when you read the board.

1. Messageboards more and more are migrating away from information and into support. Many of the people who come here are looking for help. Most people looking for help have some kind of a problem they're dealing with. E.g. the sampling of issues here is greatly magnified over the sampling of issues across the banded population.
   
2. Band problems cause a sort of small scale mass hysteria, especially among researchers and newly banded folks. The posts about complications tend to be more dramatic in and of themselves (the way they're posted, the visual panic, etc.), but also bring a lot more traffic (hysteria). A thread about "OH SWEET GUMBY MY BAND HAS SLIPPED HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" is, by nature, going to bring a lot more hits (and therefore a lot more visibility) than "5 yrs, no problems yet" will. More hits = you're more likely to see it.

There's people around in Australia still going strong at 10 years. I dont know anyone personally though, apart from one lady who has had a revision to the newer band due to slippage.

Thanks I know you are right people love to read drama! I am excited to have my band in and I know that keeping my banded body healthy is up to ME!! I have to say this forum is great and even with some of the negitive stuff it has helped me in my choice very much.

The day I had band surgery there was a woman at the surgery center to support her friend who was also being banded that day.

The supportive friend had her band surgery 15 years ago in France. She looked great and told us she had never had problems with it.

You don't hear a lot about ten years post lap band because the procedure was only approved for use in the USA in 2001. It's been used successfully in Europe, Australia and elsewhere for much longer.

My cousin had it done in Israel,lost 100 lbs. and looks great!

The other people in my family had it done in Venezuela and Panama.

I've had my Band over six years. I was Banded literally a few days after it received FDA approval.

When I was Banded, there was 5 year data available... so that makes it at least 11 years. I believe the first lap-bands were placed in 1994 in Europe.

Congratulations, this os wonderful. How much did you gain in each pregnancy ?

:whoo:I was baned 9/17/07 Had a little pain at first but ,Iwas scared to try to eat any food at first , Eat a little popcorn at first ,no problem .

Sometimes I think I might have made a mistake in having the banding done .But it is all worth while so far .I eat almost anything I want to try. I even ate some steak, small amount, it tastes so good to be able to eat something that I reallylike .I've lost 25lbs.sence this has all started I'm lucky so far nopbing up anything so far,a little gas pain so far,I sip a little h2o with my meals and stop at the first sign of being full .I found out that if you count the times you swallow water while you drink don't go past 3 swallows and stop before you go no this has helped me .:whoo:

This sounds excellent! What if I start gaining weight after so many years, do I get a fill?

You know what, you're lucky! 25lbs. less since Sep. 19,wow!

You can eat almost anything.. Just count your lucky stars****

Hopefully I will do just as well.

Congratulations, this os wonderful. How much did you gain in each pregnancy ?

With my first pregnancy, I gained 45 pounds. I lost 40 pounds within three weeks of giving birth... no fills.

With my second and third pregnancies, I gained about 20-25 pounds.

I was unfilled for all three pregnancies.