I have had the lap band for 17 years with great success. I lost 100% of my excess weight within the first year and I have kept it off. 246 to 123 at 5'4". The Lap Band is absolutely not for everyone and it hasn't been easy but having been overweight from a toddler to my 30's when I had the surgery, I would still choose the discomfort and restriction. I understand not everyone would feel that way. But recently I started feeling discomfort below the band and having digestive pain, gas, constipation and diarrhea. My surgeon emptied the band three weeks ago. I feel 100% better. Still can't eat like I did pre band. Dealing with bloating which is apparently normal having had the band restrict my digestion for so long. I have gained 15 pounds in the 2-3 weeks since he emptied it, which already puts me at just the low end of overweight. I haven't tried increasing exercise and working with what I have but I think that will obviously help to take off a couple of the regained pounds.

The surgeon doesn't recommend adjusting the band anymore. And even though I feel good at the moment, he doesn't recommend keeping it in place. He suggests revision to bypass. He said that since I have the band now and have experienced reflux in the past, there is as much as a 40% chance of reflux with the sleeve. I am wary about bypass both because it is so invasive and I know a handful of people who have had bypass with poor weight loss results. I am just educating myself on the sleeve.

I would love to hear from former lap band patients who had good results with weight loss but had to have revision due to issues. What was the difference in the way you felt and could eat? Did you regain or lose weight? What was the transition and lifestyle adjustment like?

My doctor is leaving it completely up to me...keep the band, go to bypass and he said because of my success with the band, he could probably be convinced to do a sleeve for me. That would be my first choice except for the possibility of severe reflux. Hoping there is someone out the with experience and insight.

I had the LB in 2009, I loved my band. I miss her every day. I had great success with it till she slipped in 2017. If I could go back all those years ago I would never had gotten it out. I wish I had insisted on a complete infill and wished for it to go back. But instead I came to the internet and lets others get into my head. Including the doctors. In 2017 I was at a good weight and had maintained for years. After she was removed I was able to control myself but hunger came back with a vengeance. I did everything possible to keep it off. Over the next couple years I had put back 30 lbs. I know that doesn’t sound like a lot but on a 5’2” person it was. I decided to try for a revision. I really wanted the miniGB but the place I was going to didn’t do that and I felt like the GB was too much for me. So I did the sleeve in 2019. Did really well. Got down to 120lbs. But I tell you it’s hard to keep it off. The ability to eat more is there. No restriction on what I could eat, drink. So do you research and don’t let anyone make you do anything you don’t feel 100% conferences in

I had lap band surgery in 2016 and was only able to lose around 55 pds before I started having issues with food not going down or throwing up after meals, it became very uncomfortable. The Dr who did the surgery would not to a reversible surgery. I finally found a Dr last year that did the reversible surgery and I felt better after but did gain about 80 pds. I had gastric bypass surgery 4 weeks ago and it’s the best decision I’ve made, should have done it the first time instead of the band. You have to do what best for yourself and your health. Good luck

I had a lap band back in 2012. Lost 100 lbs, ate very low calorie, very low protein due to restriction and just had a lot of pain and throwing up with the thing. Took all the fluid out of it due to that pain and was still throwing up with nothing in the band but I coasted through life with the thing for 12 years. Jan 2024 it got infected and i had it removed. I did the bypass because I am not going to deal with reflux or anything like that. I had the bypass at 325 lbs a year ago and today i am 183. Proud of that and it’s been a lot of rewarding work both mentally and physically. Although im not 100% sure how much of the weight loss is the work i put in VS the surgery it doesnt really matter and I am better off today VS yesterday. Good luck on your decision your Dr. hopefully can help you but this whole thing has changed my life for the better! The band was the worst thing ive ever done for myself metabolically and mentally. Getting as low as 205 all to rebound to 341 over time based upon what im able to eat comfortable is a mind game. It didnt work for me

Thanks, everyone. I postponed my follow-up appointment. I’ve been dealing with an awful lot of bloating. My surgeon doesn’t seem concerned — apparently, it’s normal after 17 years of my digestive tract not having much to process at one time, and now suddenly I’m eating more.

It’s been almost a month, and honestly, it’s been almost unbearable. I literally ballooned up 20 pounds, all in my tummy — I looked pregnant. I’ve been so uncomfortable and can’t bend enough to do normal exercise. Every bite or sip made my belly swell up, with constant burping and terrible gas.

Gas-X did very little; eating small meals didn’t help much; walking, yoga, exercise, mint tea, and a low-FODMAP diet didn’t do much either. In the end, “Olly Beat the Bloat” pills and time have helped a great deal.

I’m not going to make any decisions until I know my system is working properly. I’m giving it until the end of the month, which will mark a full month since the unfill. I had also gotten off track with my thyroid meds and hormone replacement during all this, (which likely contributed to some of the issues). But I’ve been back on track for three weeks now.

My original surgeon really scared me about gastric bypass when he was promoting the lap band. Plus, I have friends who’ve had bypass and didn’t do well. But hearing stories from folks here has me leaning more toward the bypass. Still, I’m trying to wrap my head around the fact that I’m already at a normal weight. Where will this change leave me? Will I lose more weight or just maintain or will I gain? It sounds like a completely different ballgame with the bypass, and I still have questions for my surgeon. Hearing from people who have first hand experience helps a ton!

Edited October 23, 2025Oct 23 by Jodi620

I had band longs as you I had it empty for a year gained 40 pounds and port just flipped so gettingnport fix and band refill to start over slot of Dr try to not do band but I insisted and he saided ok it worked for me do I will have and will fight for it just have to do what I should