I have my first consultation next week for lap band surgery. I was certain that the positive result from the lap band would outweigh the negative. But reading about the lap band causing CANCER and heart problems and removal and revision surgeries and slipping and ‘horrible pain’ and er visits. I feel unbelievably scared and unsure!

Many thanks Matt z

If you're *just* over into the obese range and hesitant about Lapband, have you considered trying a medical weight management program first before surgery? They will prescribe you rx diet drugs and have you on Optifast for several weeks, which may be enough for you to get into the normal range. That would be my first go-to if my BMI was around 30.

My friend had Lapband 6 or 7 years ago and is still going strong, for what it's worth. No weight gain, no problems. She does have to go and get it filled some or unfilled on rare occasion, which seems like a huge pain.

When I first had my lap and a fill cost about $225 which was OK. After a year the surgeon would only do the fill using X-ray. The total cost then went to $700! I had no choice but to pay up. On top of this were train and taxi fares to London which is a long way from where I live. In conclusion losing 56 lbs cost me a total of about $25K. Bear this in mind. Also it cost another $7K to have the band removed.

On 2/9/2018 at 11:49 AM, Tashaplus3 said:

I disagree. I am 5 years out this month. I love my band. It keeps me in check. Most people that don’t like the band is because they don’t follow the rules. Of course there are medical issues that occur and it needs to be removed. I started at 225 and now I am down to 167. I am now a size 8-10. Kept it off for 5 years. I work out a lot and when I eat foods that I shouldn’t or too much food I pay the price. It reminds me NOT to do it again. It’s not a magic pill. It’s just a tool but you have to be nice to it.

• At 5 years I would have said the same thing. I was still slim, feeling great and would get annoyed with all the negativity about the band. But now after 9 years I understand. At some point something happens ( not really definable) and that tool stops working. It's like having a chainsaw with no motor. You don't want to throw it away because it cost a heap and it worked well in the past, so you keep using it and you get frustrated that no matter what you do you can't cut through that tree. You blame yourself, think that it is something that you are doing wrong but in reality that tool needs to be thrown away and replaced because it is never going to give you the result you want again.

• I I

On 6/26/2018 at 2:11 AM, nurse4126 said:

Run! Just got rid of mine. Had the nasty puke band for 13 years. If you are a food addict as most of us are, you will soon figure out that refined carbs go down really well and good Protein ( meat, chicken) comes up and out really well. RNY with lap band removal June 11

So true.

Steak and chops are a nightmare. Chicken is fine some days but not others. Burgers and sausages are a little better.

Bread doesn't go down well but thats no great loss but cake is easy, as is chocolate, biscuits, nut bars etc.

On the positive side I can know eat things like raw carrots, celery and corn which I couldnt for a long time.

The FIRST thing my surgeon asked me when I sat down for the initial visit was, "You don't want lap band, do you?" and I said no. He replied "Good." There's a reason it's falling out of favor, and there's no way in heck I would get it.

I had my lapband 10 years ago. It has worked well overall. There were times that I would eat too much and throw up but it was occasional. Now I have been having some problems. A recent endoscopy revealed intestinal metaplasia. The doctor suggested removing the band and I answered why would I want to do that? That was before the biopsy came back. He did not tell me anything more.

My surgeon is in a different state. Has anyone had this problem? I’m wondering if I just have the fluid removed, is it possible that my situation would repair itself? It is obviously pre cancer but I don’t want to wait for full blown cancer.

Don’t do it! I’ll regret it fir the rest of my life. Increased my migraines, constant pain and ER visits!

I had mine done 10+ years because my insurance only covered band or bypass. I was scared to do bypass as it felt too drastic and permanent for me. It worked in the first months then I learned how to “bypass” it and started eating again as before. If I was not too careful though I would puke and had problem with dry food getting through.
Two months ago I had it removed and last week I had a sleeve operation as I had all the weight put back on. Surgeon who removed my lap and told me it was starting to incorporate inside my stomach, this is why he gave me two months of healing time before doing any further surgery after removing it.
I am really happy for all the people it works for it was just not the correct solution for me !
Fingers crossed now :)

I sincerely appreciate all of the replies to my frustrated self, and I humbly apologize for sounding absolutist, and for coming across as being on the attack. I am honestly happy that it works so well for some. It is a choice that I would not make again for myself, and I will always advise caution with regards to the band, but I will have to add and stress that it can be quite / very successful for the right people.

For myself, I finally found a bariatric surgeon that listened to everything that I had been going through. He said that the problem was band intolerance, there are some (very few, thankfully) that can feel the device. That, in addition to several other health concerns (to include a weak esophagus) led to him recommending removal. Amazingly, my insurance covered that surgery, and I have been band free for 7 weeks now. My weight is going down, and not only are my muscles no longer in painful atrophy, but they are coming back! I teared up when I realized that my biceps had a bump again at 6 weeks out (without any exercises during post op recovery), vs being flat and flaccid despite curls etc pre removal.

For me, it was not a good thing, however, I am not the norm. I have had to have all implanted devices removed because I can feel them, and they hurt a lot. With the band specifically, it was also causing a malnutrition effect due to my increasing list of food intolerances -- most of which have been resolved since removal. It is so nice to be able to eat fresh produce, lean meats, eggs, etc without ongoing pain. *shrugs* I have come to understand that my experience is so far out of the norm as to be unhelpful. I did not realize how abnormal my experience was until I met a surgeon that did not dismiss me out of hand, actually listened to all I had to say, did testing, validated my issues, recommended simple removal, went to bat with my insurance company, then actually removed it. Life is much better without, for me. But my case is very much not the norm.

I had my sleeve in January after initially choosing the band, thinking less invasive. Then I decided I wanted better average chance of loss and less intervention later (ports, refills, possible slippage, possible revision) and I also wanted the impact on hunger hormones from sleeve over and above the band restriction.

Honestly never considered the RNY. Seems crazy with my tendency to research to nth degree, but really felt bypass was a step too far. Double nuts when you consider it’s reversible in a pinch vs binning 90% of your stomach.

Aaaanyways, happy with sleeve right now. Was ready to change my relationship with food and the hunger pause and hard stop on quantity gives my higher thought processes long enough to win.

Ref age 21 and 32 BMI: would prob see me leaning away from band in terms of lasting a lifetime and away from bypass as I would have so many super active and reproductive years ahead where malabsorption might not help. Wish I’d done it years ago so my skin was still springy enough to bounce back and I could have turned the weight and health clock back to enjoy all the extra decades of fun while lighter. Don’t get me wrong, loved my life and love my kids, but so much would have been easier.


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I had my lap band removed last January after only a year. Always in discomfort. Couldn't swallow anything. Threw up daily. It was a brutal experience. It took me 3 years and $11 000 to make the decision.

Wish it went differently.

Doctor closed up shop and had to find another doctor to remove it.

Spent a week in the hospital after.