I had my band removed in 2011 and soon I'll have surgery for the gastric sleeve. I had my pre-op appointment with my surgeon on Friday and he mentioned something I didn't know or realize - that my surgery will take more time because I've had a band, due to scar tissue. And because of that, I have a higher risk of developing a leak near the top of my stomach where the staple line will start.

He said that when band surgery is performed, they sew part of the stomach over the band (pars flaccida technique?) but when it's removed, it's not 'undone'. And that area has scar tissue? Or maybe it's the band itself that causes the scar tissue but he also has to undo that area stitched over?

I knew my original surgeon did that but I had assumed the on-call surgeon undid it to remove the band. He was a HUGE jerk who treated me like an idiot and talked over me when I asked informed questions (anything that seemed to question his authority, it seemed). I just stopped asking questions.

My current surgeon seems to think since it's been so long since the band was removed (and I haven't had any issues) that the scar tissue will have softened quite a bit. (I know he mentioned it to drive home the sipping of water as opposed to gulps but I'm surprised it didn't come up in our original consultation).

ANYWAY, have any of you gone years after lap band removal and then had gastric sleeve surgery? If so, what was your experience? This bit of info threw me and I didn't think of follow up questions right then and there. I'm just over a week out from my surgery. I'm getting nervous about this and the added risk of complications. I'm a worst-case-scenario kind of person, so... =/

My revision surgery did take about an hour longer than usual due to the scar tissue left behind by the band. In general, the band to sleevers have a higher risk of having a leak -- my surgeon said our risk doubles from a 1% leak rate to a 2% leak rate. I'd ask your surgical practice if they have ever had any leaks -- mine (@ UCLA Bariatrics) had never had a leak. They were super cautious with me and kept me on liquids double the amount of time of their virgin sleevers.

I think it's smart to plan for the worst case scenario. I'd recommend asking your surgeon

• Their leak rate
• Are there any special post-op dietary considerations for a revision patient
• How do they alter the surgery for revision patients -- for example, most band to sleevers end up having a slightly larger stomach due to the damage/scarring left by the band (this is also why we end up losing a little less weight than virgin sleevers)

Revising is scary, but it's also the best thing I've ever done. Life with a sleeve is so much better than with a band.

The surgeon who took out your band sounds not only like a rude jerk but dangerous! It's too bad you didn't get answers to your questions back then.

It hasn't been years, but my surgeon was saying that I'd have more scar tissue too due to that stomach sewing technique. When she took my band out last August, she tried to take down some of the scarring because she knew I'd be revising to the sleeve (I did so 12/7). I think it's just a matter of taking out that scar tissue in the same surgery as your revision. It'll probably just take a while longer. My surgeon used an endoscope to check the staple line during surgery, then had me do a water barium swallow the morning after my surgery and before I had anything else to drink to make sure there was no leak.

Edited December 23, 20178 yr by KCRN

I'm scheduled to take my band out on the 22nd of January to do the sleeve. I've been having second thoughts since November of last year. the band isn't helping me however I've been able to lose 35 lb on my own by exercising and watching what I eat. I still have a huge appetite and believe that the sleeve will help me Get back to a normal size. I'm hesitating because I don't know if the sleeve will help my appetite since I've learned to eat around my band. I wonder if I'll do the same With the sleeve. Since both of you have already done your surgeries Do you have any regrets? do you feel a dfference from when you had your band put in and now with the sleeve?

7 hours ago, Maryiam said:

I've been able to lose 35 lb on my own by exercising and watching what I eat

That is great! It shows dedication to a healthier lifestyle. It'll be good to have a tool (the sleeve) to help keep that off.

7 hours ago, Maryiam said:

I still have a huge appetite and believe that the sleeve will help me Get back to a normal size.

Your appetite may or may not decrease after sleeve surgery. Mine is still there, but I've read of other who aren't hungry at all for up to a year. I've read that you can expect to lose about 60% of your excess weight with the sleeve, but some have lost more and actually achieved a normal BMI.

7 hours ago, Maryiam said:

Since both of you have already done your surgeries Do you have any regrets? do you feel a dfference from when you had your band put in and now with the sleeve?

I've been having some trouble with the diet; I didn't expect it to be this difficult to tolerate. I'm so sick of liquids, of protein shakes, and now of pureed textures. I want something crunchy, a cucumber with greek yogurt ranch dip perhaps. I'll get to regular foods eventually, but the wait is a lot longer in my mind than I was expecting. My weight loss has also been slow so far. I was sleeved on 12/7/17 and have lost about 12 pounds since then, which seems low. I suspect it's due to my medications, because there's no way it's due to excessive caloric intake. And it turns out that the timing is harder than I anticipated. Having the surgery before the holidays has been really hard. I was having a little bit of regret at first, when I was more bummed out about these issues, but I don't regret the surgery at all. I think it's one of the best decisions I've ever made.

I totally feel a difference from the band. I had a more difficult recovery with the sleeve than the band (a week of mild nausea, stomach cramps), and as I wrote about above, the inital diet is typically long and in my opinion sucks, but it'll be worth it. So far, instead of my food getting stuck at the top of my stomach, it slowly makes its way to the bottom until I feel satisfied. You still have to eat slowly, and take small bites and chew chew chew, but I've not had any regurgitation, "stuck" foods, or "slime-ing", even now that I've started puree. Also, NOT HAVING A PORT. That's glorious. I hated the thing. It flipped on me shortly after placement, so I had to have another surgery to fix it, the fills were painful, and it was plain uncomfortable under my skin. The sleeve is like night and day from the band. It's becoming very common to revise from the band to sleeve.

Best wishes as you make your decision.

This was very helpful. Thank you for your response.

I was sleeved 12/28/17. I had had a lapband for about 8 year, lost some weight but my experience had not been good. Constantly vomiting, food getting stuck. It caused problems with my esophagus dilating and had to later be removed. I was able to get the sleeve and so for I'm doing well. Have to stay on a clear liquid diet longer because of the band removal, a small hernia and the sleeve process, but everything has a price to pay. So for I am dow 15 lbs in 7 days and I feel fine. By the way I am 61 years old and a determine Woman following all the rules

5 hours ago, Samore said:

I was sleeved 12/28/17. I had had a lapband for about 8 year, lost some weight but my experience had not been good. Constantly vomiting, food getting stuck. It caused problems with my esophagus dilating and had to later be removed. I was able to get the sleeve and so for I'm doing well. Have to stay on a clear liquid diet longer because of the band removal, a small hernia and the sleeve process, but everything has a price to pay. So for I am dow 15 lbs in 7 days and I feel fine. By the way I am 61 years old and a determine Woman following all the rules

Hi! My story is very similar to you. Good luck on your New journey with the sleeve. Question if I may ask. Did your insurance pay for the revision? To sleeve

You look beautiful!

Edited January 4, 20188 yr by SKF
Comment

Congrats on your revision. My story is extremely similar I was banded in nov. 2013 lost 130 lbs but had a baby in 2016. Through those years i threw up at minimum 5 times a day everyday it was horrible. I had my revision surgery on 12/1/17 and I am loving my sleeve! 12/1=259lbs now 1/4/18=231

I am really pleased so far. No more throwing up, acid reflux and trying not to let my husband know how often it was happening.

Oh how I dont miss the acid reflux!

38 minutes ago, SKF said:

Hi! My story is very similar to you. Good luck on your New journey with the sleeve. Question if I may ask. Did your insurance pay for the revision? To sleeve

You look beautiful!

My insurance did cover my revision. I have cigna.

40 minutes ago, SKF said:

Hi! My story is very similar to you. Good luck on your New journey with the sleeve. Question if I may ask. Did your insurance pay for the revision? To sleeve

You look beautiful!

My Insurance did pay. So thankful

New to the site and how to navigate thru it, but I'll learn. This is a wonderful site.

8 minutes ago, Samore said:

Thanks, yes my insurance did pay Aetna