Hey there!! looking at getting the band. any answer to how long it can stay in? i would really appreciate any responses!!!!

thanks, tonya

I've talked to someone that has had their 10 years.

My doctor told me this is a permanent surgery unless there are complications. I guess you can have it removed one day but why would you if it helps you to control your weight.

Helen

They tell you that it's forever. However, from what I've seen I'm expecting to have mine in for about 5 years. If I get more than that, I'll have a party in the streets. It just seems like there are too many slips and leaks for me to expect more than 5 years.

I am not banded yet but also from what I read even though it is supposed to be forever and there are people on here who have had it 10plus yrs I think 5 yrs is about the average of when I have seen people start having slippage and erosion but I see it like this is I get at least 5 years by then you should have good eating habits in effect and your body should be adjust to your new life style foods, exercise ect.... but hey if we can get more then five years that is better for us .:thumbup:

I agree with the 5 year theory. I don't agree that you will have new eating habits and good to go after that. A far majority of people will gain the weight back....in fact most.

People on here with 10 years?? HMMMM....I haven't seen any? Not that they don't exist, I just haven't ever seen one on here?

There is a woman who has had her band in for 16 yrs on obesity help .com she is now getting it out and there was 2 other women I talked too who have had the band out and one said she gained 15lbs back since having her band out 8mnths ago and the other has maintained her weight since having her band out two years ago, some people can learn to maintain there weight some people I agree it is harder and they do gain there weight back but it can be done .........

given the smaller size of our cities downunder, the bandster community tends to not be as online as you see here, and Melbourne bandsters and such do meet. I've not been really involved in groups, but I have been to several big meet ups. There's loads of people around in Australia who have been banded well over 5 years, since they've been doing it here for longer than in the States.

And the small snippet of people I've met in real life are not representative of bandsters in TOTAL anymore than the members of a forum such as this are. You hear of so so many problems here because people who HAVE problems are the ones most likely to log on asking for help. there's a gazillion bandsters on there that dont get involved in online communities. So you get a skewed picture here.

What I have seen represented in real life is that the bandster who loses 100% of excess weight is not the norm, most improve their health (and looks) considerably but dont get all their weight off. However, every second person is not barfing up every meal, sitting up all night with reflux or having terrible complications. Most of the people in real life are just like me - had their bands in, lost weight, got on with life with the occasional stuck episode and that's it.

Longer than 10 years, well, who knows? There's few stats anywhere on that and band design has improved enormously, i doubt there's many people around with non adjustable bands in!

But yeah, you dont remove it. To do so usually results in significant weight regain. Once your body has been fat, it seems it is goign to fight to stay that way. Bands are essential for maintenance. Same as you dont reverse sleeves or GBP's.

That said, there is every likelihood that your band will wear out or fail in some way - most likely the balloon. You've really got to be realistic about having to replace it at some point - my doc conservatively "guesses" 20 years, but is quite upfront about the fact that its probably the balloon part that will wear out.

I guess you have to decide if that worries you. I mean I plan to live long enough thanks to my band and my healthy lifestyle that there's every likelihood that my knees or my hips will give out and I'm not removing those just to be on the safe side!

Edited May 7, 200917 yr by Jachut

Also, the Realize band is the new and improved band. The company seems to think that it's ability to last is comparitive to other 'implants' created for better living. This brand was supposedly created because of the slippage, port and balloon problems on the previous brand. Who knows... Worse case scenario, you may have to have it replaced.