Band Disintegrated

I recently had to have a complete new band put in.  The surgeon said when he looked at it the entire thing was disintegrating!  Has anyone heard of this, or had a similar experience?  Thanks!

 Nope. I didn't think plastics EVER disintegrate!!

Are you sure your surgeon didn't say your band was eroding and not disintegrating? With erosion, the band migrates from the outside to the inside of the stomach. The band remains intact, but it's in the wrong place where it can cause permanent damage so must be removed.

Did he keep what remained of the old band? I'd want to hear the manufacturer's opinion about it. You could send the band to Allergan or Ethicon Endo for analysis.

Silicone and other manmade materials don't disintegrate easily, which is one of the reasons this planet has such a problem with growing landfills and waste disposal.

Jean

Yes, the band actually was falling apart!  It was still in the proper place.  Which is why they couldn't tell why it couldn't get filled and assumed it was a port problem.  I went in to have the port replaced.

They have kept the old band and are discussing sending it to an independent lab for analysis.  Allergan would like it back for their own investigation.

Still waiting to hear possible explanations.
Meri

Okay, maybe I will be "nice".  Could be the body does absorb foreign man-made matter.  I am sorry for anyone who has implanted joints, valves, stents, fill-ins, caps, crowns, lenses, breasts, weaves, jewelry etc.

Odd  though.  I personally would not have allowed the surgeon to put a second band on me. My trust would be shot to Hades.

Good Luck with your new band.  I hope it stays intact.

My Aunt's did partically disintegrate but she found out she had breast cancer a week after her WLS and had to do chemo and radiation so they figured it was from that...

Well, people sometimes choose adjectives, thinking that they mean one thing, when in reality, it's probably not the correct one!  I'm thinking that your band might have been coming apart or eroding into your stomach.  The word "disintegrating" implies that it was simply turning to dust while on your stomach and that's probably not true. At least, I hope not!

Since your surgeon put a new band in, I'm assuming it was product failure and not stomach erosion. Either way, I hope you heal up well and feel well soon! 

Thanks!  Yes, the band was falling apart - no stomach erosion thank goodness. 

Since I have been so happy with the band for the first couple of years and able to maintain a healthy weight for the first time since I was 7 years old, I don't want to give it up!

I do think it's possible for the silicone to break down in your body...maybe not completely disintegrate...because there would be nothing left of the band if it COMPLETELY disintegrated.  But I seem to remember a 20/20 report about silicone breasts (back in the early 90's) about how some women had to have their implants removed because they were "breaking down" and silicone was leaking into their bodies.  I am thinking if a silicone boob can break down than I think it's possible for the band to do the same thing...but it is a very, very rare occurrence.  Then again this was around 20 years ago so maybe they have improved the silicone they are using for implants and bands...don't know.  I just wanted to mention it. 

Whew!!  Glad I oped for saline boobs!!  Unfortunately, they still do offer silicone! LOL :)