Does anyone have anything good to say about Lap-Band?

Our center has a 30% reported removal rate as of 1.5 years ago.  That didn't include those that were banded at our center and had them removed revised at the centers closer to them that opened since the time of there banding over the last 10 years or so.

Yes...if you only need to lose 80 lbs or less, and cannot do it on your own without wls, the lap band MIGHT be your better option.  Emphasis on MIGHT.  if you rarely vomited in your life, you will learn how with this one!

Other than that...NO!

As you see in the responses here.  There are people that have had success with the band, and there are people that have NOT.  As for some of you saying that the studies are old, the studies are not right, everyone needs to really do their research.
I got the band May 1, 2007.  I was ecstatic.  I was going to do this right, I wanted to reach my goal by my 45th birthday (Aug 1, 2009).  I figured that would be doable.  I went into this weighing 303.  After my 2 week liquid diet, day of surgery, I was already down to 266.  I was very determined.  My doctor told me that I was the ideal candidate.  I had absolutely NO co-morbidities.   I had low cholesterol, great blood pressure 110/70, excellent heart rate, no arthritis, etc.  I was a firefighter and an EMT, yes even at my weight.  I have ALWAYS been VERY active, yet always been heavy.  

July 4th weekend, 2008.  Friday the 4th was having a bad day keeping anything down.  By Monday I wasn't even able to hold down water.  I called the local hospitals and they knew NOTHING about the Lap Band and said the only thing they would be able to do is give me IV's.  Monday my "doctors" clinic was closed due to July 4th weekend, so first thing Tuesday morning, I was headed to the hospital because I was literally to weak to take it anymore.  I had called and left emergency messages with my doctors office.  While I was on my way to the hospital, they ended up calling me back.  They told me no, come straight in (I was 3-1/2 hours away).  My daughter drove me there.  They took me in and immediately took out ALL the fluid (I only had 2 cc in a 4 cc band ~ never had to have any more).  Then they had me meet them at the hospital a couple blocks away so they could do a barium swallow.  I had developed a hiatal hernia.  This was caused by nothing that I did, the doctor (which was not my surgeon cause he had moved) told me that it was common and that it would heal itself.  He told me to give it about 4 weeks and I could get another fill.  At this point, I was 209, that is down 94 pounds from my highest, I should be ecstatic, right? Well, I never got another fill and NEVER had any kind of success after that.  I asked him when I was in there if we could just take the band out and he said no, they don't just take bands out unless there is an emergency. (now remember the phrase ~ reversible ~ LIE).
For the next 3-1/2 years, I would end up vomiting at least 5 days of the week.  Before the hernia, I never vomited.  I LOVED my band, it was a great "tool".  I literally went 2 weeks on fluids again and started the soft foods, etc.  Well, by 2 years out, I couldn't eat much of anything without vomiting.  Remember, I have NO fluid in my band.  By year 3, I could no longer digest ANY kinds of protein, not even a protein shake, I would vomit.  I could not eat fruit, I would vomit.  I could not eat salad.  Now remember, the reason for this is to lose weight.  We want to learn to eat RIGHT.  What happens when you cannot eat right?  Well, mashed potatoes became my crutch.  That was sometimes the only thing I could keep down.  I gained most of my weight back.  I hovered around 265 for those 3 years.
December 12, 2011, I was hanging mini blinds at a house I had just bought for my mom and wanted to have it ready for her for Christmas.  I felt a pain that was out of this world.  I ended on the floor in extreme pain.  I wasn't sure what the pain was, my boyfriend drove me to his house where I just tried to relax in the recliner.  The pain was so bad that I slept in the recliner that night.  Just didn't want to move.  The next day I couldn't hold any food down (this was the first that I started even thinking it was the band).  I went to the ER that night where they put an IV in and did a CT scan and said there was nothing wrong (I told them about the Lap Band and said I think something happened with it). They told me I pulled a muscle and gave me a scrip for pain and another one for muscle relaxer.  I never even got them filled cause I couldn't even hold water down the next day.  Went back into the ER that night where they looked at my paperwork from the night before, took some more blood and gave me a shot for the pain.  They had me sign my release papers while waiting on blood work to get back (I am sure they were expecting to find drugs in my blood work but nothing else).  I told them if they released me they might as well shoot me cause I felt like I was dying.  My blood work came back, no drugs in my system, but my white blood count was raised sky high since the night before.  They did another CT scan while they injected dye into me.  Next thing I know, they are telling me they are sending me to a larger hospital an hour away and I had to go by ambulance.  Now, I don't remember much of the ambulance ride, but what I do remember is the surgeon coming in and telling me that my band had slipped and I needed emergency removal.  I told him, I don't care, do what you need to do to stop the pain.  He exact words then were... "You do realize this is life and death, don't you?"  I was like.. "No".  He told me that he would not know the extent of the damage until they got in.  10 hours later I was waking up in ICU where I would remain for the next day and a half.  They had to remove parts of my stomach as the band had cut off ALL the blood supply and it had turned necrotic and gangrene.  After removing the dead sections of stomach, they had to piece together the rest of it.  I was in the hospital on a feeding tube with with drains and IV's for 8 days.  I was released the evening of the 23rd of December.  The only reason they released me that early is because I was determined to be home by Christmas.  I was not allowed anything by mouth until the 23rd.  Not even ice chips.  I had the feeding tube hanging out of me until the end of February 2012.
Now it has been 2-1/2 years and now, because of the trauma that my body went through when the band slipped, I have been diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis (from vitamin deficiency with the band), IBS, chronic fatigue, and still don't know what all is wrong.  I did not have insurance anymore when my band slipped so therefore have medical bill well over $100,000 still.  I go in 2 more weeks to have another endoscopy to see if scar tissue is interfering with my ability to swallow or if I am another one of the "lucky ones" to end up having stents put in my esophagus.
Before I got the band, I was a "healthy" fat.  Now, I am very unhealthy, and yes, still fat.
So... for those who say the band only fails if the person doesn't follow the rules... I am here to say you are completely wrong.  I followed every rule in the book and the band almost killed me.  What I have put my family through since 2007 is definitely NOT worth it.  
EVERY person is different, but for me to personally know 3 people that have had to have their entire stomach removed due to the band, and 2 more that have to live their entire life with a feeding tube due to damage from the band, SORRY... NOT worth it!!!

When I had my first consult last December the LapBand wasn't even an option. Every surgeon at the center refused to do them anymore. I've never had the Band and don't know anyone personally who has, I've only been sleeved for 3 weeks so take my words with a grain of salt. I am so pleased with my sleeve. I've lost 22 pounds since surgery and have the comfort of knowing there's no foreign object in my body waiting to attack me one day. 

After reading this site and another a member from here turned me on to I have decided to tell my heart doctor I am not interested. The idea of getting WLS scares me greatly and to be honest it is making my mental issues act up.

I had the band in 2009 had it removed 9/12 due to issues the whole time.  I was sleeved 1/13 so am about a year and a half out and love the sleeve.  No issues with it and it does what I thought the band would and didn't. Also no having to have fills and unfills.  I just go for routine labs and follow ups.

I would check it out before you write WLS off all togeather.

I am on my second band and now 7 years later from the beginning of my journey, I am having RNY as I am 10lbs heavier than when the journey first started. It's a personal choice but I firmly believe that if you polled 100 banded patients, only 20 - 30% would tell you how successful it was.

I got banded on June 12, 2013. I had gotten so sick my doctor gave me a choice, WLS, getting an insulin pump, or go home to die. I chose Lap Band. I was taking a total of 36 pills and 3 insulin shots a day before my band. By week 12 post op I was off ALL of my meds and declared Diabetic FREE! I have had a great exp. with my band despite all the "Haters" telling me I was basically committing suicide by having the band placed. I wont say my journey has been txt book perfect I was slowed down because of two major (NOT band related) surgeries. because of that, I havnt lost at the rate as most people but I have Lost 80lbs in less than a year and I'm 40lbs from my goal! June 12th 2014 will be my one year surgiversary and YES I would get the band again and Yes I would tell anyone that If you get it and use it correctly it can be a life saving tool. It's ONLY a tool, not a miracle. You have to use it the way it's intended and I have done that. I love my lap band.

congrats on your success...please understand that those of us who have been damaged by our bands aren't "haters", we're injured and trying to save others from suffering as we have.  "Using it correctly" is exactly what I thought 4 years ago would keep me from having complications...it didn't.  When my band was removed I signed consent to remove my esophagus and stomach if necessary.  That was a scary time for me and my family.  I still have residual complications; a severely dilated esophagus from band induced achalasia and a cardiac arrythmia that I have to take two medications for.  I take all the same meds I took pre-op + the two cardiac meds.  The arrythmia  is from nerve damage from the band.  

Just be alert for recurring heartburn, chest pressure or pain, difficulty swallowing soft foods or liquids...these are red flags and cannot be ignored.  I didn't ignore my symptoms, but since they mimic so many other conditions it took over a year to determine that my band was the culprit and the damage was done.  

I wish you continued success in your wls journey. ✌️

As Steph stated, we aren't "Haters."  We are just putting our experiences out there to help others.  I wish there were people here doing the same when I was banded.  You actually are losing at a rate that most people with the band do.  80 pounds in less than a year with the band is GREAT and it is 66% EWL which is more than most every lose with the band. I lost 60% with mine and was their poster girl for the band.

Good luck with doing such a great job with your band.  Just be aware of what to keep and eye on.