I have been thinking about getting the band but I would like to be able to have it removed after losing the 100 pounds I need to lose.

Just wondering if anyone has done the same thing and what if any weught gain did they experience.

My gain is mostly do to diabetes and insulin. So i am hopeful after reading some of the success stories that once I start losing the meds will decrease or be eliminated and I will be able to lose weight on my own.

The other issue is that I will have to pay for the procedure myself, insurance won't cover it.

Any suggestions on that issue will be appreciated, too.

Good Luck and God Bless to everyone.

Thanks

dave

If you have it removed, you gain it back. There are studies. The success rate of keeping weight off is dismal, worse than the general population.

And, why would you want to have it removed? If you feel great, and are eating anything you want (once you've lost) but in more moderate proportions?

I look at it this way. I used to eat a BIG 12 ounce steak for dinner. Once I ate it though, I didn't think "Man I wish I could eat 2 more of those suckers!" Once full, once satiated, you're done.

Eventually I'll eat 3-4 ounces of steak and be happy and full. I don't expect I'll think "Man I wish I could have 12 ounces"

You are thinking with your current mindset...but that will change. You will be off diabetes meds, most likely (success rate depends partly on how long you've been diabetic) and will be able to eat a healthy amount for your new lower weight. Why would you want to go backwards?

I understand where you're coming from, I thought that out too. Then I realized the fallacy of my thinking, it was just that little voice in my head trying to rationalize....If I am healthy and happy with the band, I won't need to have it removed.

I agree with restless monkey - in all likelihood you would just gain the weight back if you have the band removed. You could certainly try getting an unfill once you hit your goal and keep the band as unfilled as you can handle without regaining. Also - why would you want to go through another surgery unless it was absolutely necessary?

Regarding how to get banded for less - I was banded by Dr. Ortiz at the OCC in Tijuana Mexico. I did it with my sister and we got a great rate of $7,000 each. I think it's normally $7,500-$8,000. And they can help you arrange for financing if needed as well.

Good luck!

Susan

I think there is not any reason to have it removed afterwards. You can always have it unfilled which leaves you open to eat normally for the most part . . . then it is there to help you if you start gaining.

If you remove it altogether, you are most likely to regain according to the statistics . . . . so why go through surgery at all just to go back to where you were to begin with. I myself plan to have a slight unfill once I reach goal.

I was very worried about being able to eat normally once I reached my goal. I didn't want to give up bread etc. forever, just wanted to learn to control my portions as I lose the weight. I'm very relieved to find that with no fill I'm able to eat anything I want, but I get that full signal much much sooner. I can eat half a roll, where before I would have eaten 2 full ones, or I can eat a quarter cup of ice cream, where before I would have eaten most of the pint. It's not quite restricting enough to lose at the rate I want without too much hunger, so I'm going to go ahead and get adjusted, but I'm glad to know that once I get there I can get the fill removed and eat normaly with hopefully improved habits, but with a safety net in case the weight starts to come back.

I agree with getting it unfilled vs. removed