Lap Band: more than 50% FAILURE rate

I am so glad to see this----it helps confirm what my surgeon said about the the RNY Gastric Bypass being my better option.

While I agree that the RNY is definitely a better option than the Band, the DS is a better option still. PLEASE research it---with your BMI, it's really the better choice.

I read somewhere...but I don't recall the source...the certain bariatric sugeons--who HAPPEN to specialize in the band--want to change the definition of success to 40% EWL.

Can you imagine.

With that change, a 300 pound person who needs to weigh about 150--and needs to lose about 75 pounds and weigh 225 to be a success by current standards--would only need to lose 60 pounds and weigh 240 to be a success by the proposed change.

Wouldn't THAT be a thrill? 

Congratulations!  You're still morbidly obese but NOW you're only 90 pounds overweight!!

Uh...no thanks.  I'm not at goal but I'm also not 90 pounds overweight anymore.

I have come across actual studies that define "success" as 25% EWL instead of 50% - sad truth is, the stats still weren't very good! If I went through SURGERY and lost only 25 of the 100 pounds I needed to lose, and someone told me I was a "success," I'm pretty sure I would punch them in the face.

 I am a a Bander.. One of the rare few that reached Goal and maintain.  I feel Blessed for that . A band was my only choice for health reasons.. If I said my  band has been problem free I be  Fibbing. I'm 4.5 years Post op  and I have been  scoped , had endless gerd. Endured  a slip band  & prolapsed band . I have  drank my share of barium. I  need a revision. I have an  old school Inmed band , the Realize  band  has a few improvements. My  band  has  a few issues, for sure. 4.5 years ago, Lap band patients were promised alot... Lap bands were relatively new, we were told they last a life time... HA!  I'm grateful for the health  benefits I have  received from WLS and my Band. I am Not bitter.  I am grateful the new  studies... help people  seeking WLS make better informed choices. I am also Grateful  of all the WLS education and options available. One size WLS does not fit all.     

http://www.aboutlawsuits.com/lap-band-side-effects-additional-surgery-17088/

Many Government studies are available... i was shocked at the complication and failure rate. 

There is a grassroots (and public interest) effort to get the FDA to require reporting of problems with the lap band - which astonishingly, is NOT currently required.  Please join the failed lap band group and use the reporting links: http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/failed_lap_bands/discussion

Report your band problems/failures to the FDA
directly!

Write a letter to Washington

What we need here is a HUGE class action lawsuit. I'm not interested in making one penny, I'm only interested in the extinction of the LAGB.

My story...Had the LapBand done almost 3 years ago.  Heaviest was 270. I now ONLY weigh 235.  I am filled as far as I can go.  I have virtually no restriction.  Only on certain things do I really feel anything.  I have no appetite most of the time.  I'll admit I don't always eat the right things or pay attention to how much I'm eating, but when you don't feel that restriction you don't realize it at times.  Before surgery, I had PCOS, pre diabetes, and a fatty liver (not alcohol related), higher cholesterol and high trigylcerides.  All of that has corrected itself, except for the PCOS.  I don't have that anymore, i just went into ovarian failure instead.  So, do I constitute as a band failure?  I worry all the time about slippage or erosion.  I've tried everything else to lose weight since I"ve had the band and really have had no luck.  I've thought about getting the sleeve.  I know several people that have had it done with huge successes and no complications at all.  I don't even know if I'd qualify for anything anymore because even though I"m still way overweight, I have no health problems to speak of.  I'm just so depressed about the whole thing and I'm not sure where to go from here.  Right now, I"m in a pilot weightloss program through a holistic doctor whom I trust very much.  I just don't know that she'll really be able to help me.

I am grateful for the little I have lost, because nothing I did before worked.  I did the band because I thought everything else was too invasive and I didn't think I weighed enough to justify doing the bypass.  Now I wish I'd gone a different route.  I've actually talked people out of having the band done.

Guess I'm just looking for an opinion or advice.  Thanks for listening.

Have you visited the Revision forum, here? http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/revision/ There are LOTS of folks in your situation. What's your BMI? It's certainly worth looking into the possibility of revising to a more effective procedure.