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... =/

Hi all. I should probably wait until tomorrow to reply as that's when I finally have my first follow up. But I'm not haha

My surgery was on 12/18 and all seemed to go well. I had some nausea the couple of days I was in the hospital but I think it was more from the pain meds than anything else. I have the nausea meds and I took it one day when I got home when I had pain medication. I only took it once and realized the pain medication AND nausea medication gave me a migraine and I stopped it all. I'd rather have an achy stomach (incisions & heparin injection spots) than a migraine!

The first week or so I had actual stomach pains occasionally, randomly, that felt like my stomach was spasming and that was a bit sharp but it hasn't happened since. Like KCRN, I'm SO TIRED of the liquid diet. I've gone off the recommended choices (cream of chicken and mushroom soup (strained) was allowed but pea soup isn't. nothing about strained clam chowder but I'm sure it's a no, too, but I've had both.) As such, I've only lost about 10 lbs since surgery day.

I'm struggling getting protein in. Pre-sugery, I had 3 shakes a day (I needed it to keep my mind off food). I was able to drink them fairly quickly but now, I can't. They get gross when you're nursing one for 20 mins! As a result, I'm only drinking 1 on average (only 20 g protein per). I know this is negatively affecting me as I am sure I've had more muscle wasting than I should. I'm not taking in much food wise and I'm worried my metabolism has quickly slowed to a crawl (I've been the same weight since 12/28). And all I want to eat is meat. Not pureed meat but chewed up and swallowed delicious meat (can you tell the holidays were difficult? )

I'm having lots of hunger pangs between meals but I've been reading this may be due to acid production, even though I'm taking prilosec twice a day. So I'm not sure and not sure what I'll do. But it's not like I can squash the pangs with actual food like pre-surgery so I kind of ignore it now.

I did ask my surgeon afterward how big/small he made my stomach and he just smiled and said "same as I do everyone else." I will clarify tomorrow to see if he had issues with scar tissue and if mine is slightly larger or if the years and years since the band left me with scar tissue that was soft and easier to work with.

Maryiam, this is so much better than the stupid band. No more feeling stuck! You shouldn't have any vomiting and no more port pain! Plus, you could eat your weight in softer foods like pudding with the band but your new stomach will only hold so much of that junk (not that I recommend it!)

Samore, you look great! I'm happy it's going well for you, especially since you had such a bad band experience!

Had my 1 month post op visit, lost 32 pounds.

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.

Who did your surgery at ucla?