I am already banded as are most of you, but I am worried about long term complication rates, if you look at the stats that inamed uses- they refer to a study in 2000 with 299 patients followed over 36 months. realize quotes its complication rate for the first 30 days. I am worried about 10 years from now. I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Any one else worried or I should I just go seek therapy?

*self pay*

I think there are "worrisome stats" for every procedure out there! I've had four pregnancies and three deliveries, a D&C, tubal ligation, and LASIK -- all came with risk of complication. Of course, these complication statistics should definitely be considered but we also need to consider the complication of NOT losing the weight.

For me, nothing else was working and Lap-Band surgery seemed to be the only hope. They may invent something else that's even better (they already have better eye surgeries than six years ago) but I'll be glad that I got the surgery when I did. (Easy to say when I haven't had any complications, huh? )

There aren't a lot of long-term stats on the band yet so we're trusting the opinions of the developers and the doctors (some of whom have been banded themselves) when they say that the band should last the rest of lives, generally without complications. Your question, though, is one of the reasons I chose the band over other surgeries. It just seems more harmless and less likely to cause me problems later.

I think bands will still perform many years from now. This is because the band was built with the research of other medical implants. Bone replacements, plastic surgery implants, and other medical experiences have generated useful data that helped the designers of the band make a safe and inert device. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

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Long term studies data would certainly be helpful but the short term studies are so good that it should give us all great hope.<o:p></o:p>

I can't imagine anything too serious stemming from the band, years down the road. Of course, we won't know for years...but I can't imagine that the potential risks can be worse than the health issues we've avoided by not being obese.

If I don't get the band my health will be horible in ten years.

I agree with Libra. For me the alternative of not having the Lap-Band was not being around past 5 more years. My Arrythmia Specialist exact words.

He said if I had to lose a large amount of weight relatively quick.

He specically suggested Lap-Band and not the Gastric Bypass.

The major selling point for me was the Band is reversable and less documented complications than the bypass. I'll take my chances with the band in lieu of me losing the weight by diets and exercise alone.

I would MUCH rather have the "possible potential" of reversing or fixing surgery down the road than a GIVEN that I would have diabetes and probably die in my 60's at the rate I was going before. There are risks taking every breath we take, but we are minimizing those risks with this lifestyle and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Hey Longhorn....do you REALIZE you are on the VERY THRESHOLD of ONEDERLAND?????? I remember when I was there. I cried like a baby when I could tell my co-workers I had hit the 190's. They were in awe of my reaction and very supportive. They totally realize how much this has affected me!

Hi, Kacee!

Yes, it kind of snuck up on me because I don't lose that quickly. But after my third fill Friday, I dropped about two pounds overnight and the number 201.3 looked very funny to me! I got so excited, I told my husband that it said 101.3. :ohmy:

The weight held up this morning so I think it's for real. With my history, though, it could still take another couple of weeks. Guess we'll see what happens. Thanks for noticing! :cheers2:

I figure that if the band goes bad in a few years, by then there may be an obesity treatment even more effective. Meanwhile, I will have had the extra few years of living at a healthier weight.