Does anyone know the life-span of bands? I figure that eventually we will all have to get re-banded. What then?? Will we all have to self pay b/c insurance won't approve someone that is at their normal weight. I self-payed this time around and I can't imagine being able to pay another 16K in 10 years. Thoughts??

I figure, considering what it's made of, it will most likely outlast me. I KNOW it should last longer than 10 years. I don't think you need to worry, but your surgeon should be able to address your concerns.

I'm not sure about the life span but I was told by my surgeon for every year that you have the band obviously the risk of re doing the surgery and putting a new one in or complications goes up

So far, the figures in Australia show that 10 years is quite likely, although lots of people have changed over because band technology improved.

My surgeon's information (and this is Prof. Paul O'Brien's practice, he's one of the world experts) says to expect rebanding, but that they simply cannot know when. He says that most likely is that the balloon will fail. Just like breast implants degrade and need to be replaced.

I dont know what would happen in the US, here in Australia there wouldnt be any issues insurance wise as our health system stands at the moment. You need it, you get it done. If you didnt have insurance, you may have to wait on a list for a significant amount of time to get done in a public hospital.

But who knows, our politicians seem determined to ruin our system!

I was told by my surgeon that it was proven to last 15yrs

My surgeon said to expect 15 years or so. However he said that in Australia (where they have been banding for a lot longer), there are cases that are more than that.

OMG! I always thought the band would last forever! Am I stupid or what? I never asked this question before? I hope I get more than 15 years! I'm only 33...then what????

i'm only 33 also...that's why i'm concerned. so we'll def need a new one...at only being 33 (even if they do last 15 years). bummer!

Any artificial product put in your body has only a limited life-span. Things like knee replacements, and pacemakers etc. In 15 years, there will most likely be a more efficient and effective band, so at the point, if your band becomes defective you would get the new one. Kind of like getting a tune up, if you will. Like when you trade in your old cell phone or ipod for a newer version. That's how I see it.

I happened to get a band that was defective after 8 months, but it's yet to be determined what the issue was. So I got a new one. It happens to be I had the older Allergan band and got the new one, but that's obviously not why I got rebanded. I wasn't expecting it to happen in the first year (or the second or the third), but it did.

In regards to the insurance companies not paying, if you were covered before, they should cover to fix a problem. I assume insurance companies pay for something like replacing or fixing a knee replacement that has become defective over time. Why would the band be any different?

If something were ever to go wrong with my band I am getting the sleeve. There is nothing that can go wrong with the sleeve. Once it's done, it's done forever. It would be great never to have to have fills or the thoughts of erosion.

well im near 50 and my dr said he thinks till im gone lol.and i plan on living as long as i can,get banded oct 20th cant wait