I'm going through the process of getting ready for a band. I just can't get used to the fact of having this thing in me forever. Does anyone know if anybody can ever keep weight off after band removal? I would be willing to keep it in a few years but forever I don't know? Karinsky

Honestly there is no need to have it removed. That would require another surgery. Once you have lost your weight, why don't you just have it unfilled. You will never know you have it. That way....if you do begin to gain weight....you can have it filled again.

I only heard this once a very long time ago, and I don't know if it's true. But I heard a rumor that French doctors only allow patients to keep the band for four years, then they remove it. That gives four full years to re-train yourself how to eat.

Can anyone back up this information?

One thing that would concern me which I've learned over the last week or two is how little some people are eating. Rebound weight gain would be a problem despite people having retrained their eating habits but because who could stick to less than 1000 calories a day forever without some sort of help?

Your body would immediately say "i need more food" surely? And your metabolism could not be unaffected by living on so few calories for so long.

But perhaps you could have gradual unfills until you reach a point of stability?

Just guessing of course.

We should be eating more than 1000 calories a day anyway..

My doctor tells people he wants to give them 6 weeks with no fill before considering band removal. He says he's never had one go longer than 4 or 5 weeks without coming back to have the band filled and having to lose at least 5 pounds.

I tell him mine can be removed at my autopsy if anyone wants it!

I'm going through the process of getting ready for a band. I just can't get used to the fact of having this thing in me forever. Does anyone know if anybody can ever keep weight off after band removal? I would be willing to keep it in a few years but forever I don't know? Karinsky

NO ONE TOUCHES MY BAND!!!!!!!!! I really have to be sick for them to take it out, and they have to beg!!!!

my doc said it stays in there for life unless something happens and it needs to be removed for a life threatning situation or similar!!

The longest band placement I've been able to find any info on, is in europe there are documented patients that have had their band over 10 years. They were amongst the first banded. With all the new improvements in the bands in the last couple of years, I see no reason to have mine out unless there are serious complications to keeping it in.

(I just realized this thread was in the wrong forum, so I moved it.)

My thinking about the permanence of the band is that it's a needed piece of medical equipment to keep me healthy. Would I ever consider removing an artificial heart valve or knee? Of course not. This is just another medical implant designed to maintain the health of the patient, and I want it to stay with me FOREVER.

GREAT WAY TO THINK ABOUT IT ALEXANDRA!!! I love a positive attitude! I only want mine removed if my life is threated with it in.otherwise..burry me with it and let the people of the future dig me up and guess at the multitude of reasons for it being in my corpse.

Good perspective Alex! That makes feel a lot better about doing this going in. I like that view. Thanks!

I COULDN'T HAVE SAID IT BETTER!

My thinking about the permanence of the band is that it's a needed piece of medical equipment to keep me healthy. Would I ever consider removing an artificial heart valve or knee? Of course not. This is just another medical implant designed to maintain the health of the patient, and I want it to stay with me FOREVER.

Hi Karinsky,

I hardly know my band is there at all. I cant feel it, but if I eat too fast it lets me know it is there. After a few years there is a sense of normalcy for me to be able to go out and eat normal portions in restaurants. I know I have a band but its really not a big deal.

Lisa: I heard that the French docs take out some of the bands when a patient can demonstrate that they can make smarter food choice and not regain for a period of time with an unfilled band. I still believe that most of us here have a satiety disorder. Once the band is unfilled, it becomes a question of being hungry all the time. ITs a lot harder to make smart food choices when you are starving all the time.

Babs in TX

334/180

-154

new goal: 170 or less...

My husband said when I die he is going to remove my band and sell it on Ebay. It was expensive....

He was kidding, of course. NO ONE touches my band !!!!

I tell him mine can be removed at my autopsy if anyone wants it!

ILMAO- Thats funny! Well said. My Doctor says that its there for a lifetime that if you remove it you will for sure overtime gain your weight back. I don't know if I agree with what he says but I do know I don't think I would take the chance. I pray every night that the Lord helps my body to accept my band & that no harm ever comes to it or me. Can I get an AMEN?! lol