Thinking or revision Surgery!! Help Please!!!

 I'm a bit furstrated and getting depressed as the days go by. I had my Lab Band Surgey on 9/28/11 and I have lost only 42 pounds!!! Thats mostly because I haven't had an adjustment since Janruary of 2011, got married in April and Hubby lost job in July and started another in August. We are getting caught up on bills and finishing paying for wedding now. Howwever, I sitll have not been able to work in the cost of the adjustments in the budget. I have gained  few pounds but lost them but I have not been able to get pass that 42lbs mark!!!!! I have been feeling like the Lab Band my not have been the best choice for me.... A Co-Worker just had the Sleeve done in Oct, I even devised her not to do the Band. I feel ike if you are not going to be able to stick with the diet program and getting your adjustments lie recommended then chose another surgery. I wish now that I have had the gastric by pass or even the sleeve thesse days. Since talking to my follow WLS co-worker she told me about this site!! Thank GOD for that. 
I have a few questions have anyone had the Band removed to have a different surgery done and if so did your insurance cover it???? In limbo here... any comments will help.....

You would probably have to pay cash to revise. I seriously doubt that any insurance company would pay for a revision when you have been non-compliant. It is very rare for the band to work without fills and if you had the band installed and have not got the fills that are needed then no chance of the band working. I am constantly saying on here that in MOST instances the band does fail, but if the band is even going to stand a chance of working.......you have to work with it and do what is needed. If you don't then the band has not failed and I can't imagine any insurance company that would be willing to pay for yet another WLS when there is a non-compliant issue such as yours.

 sorry, I don't get it- when exactly did you have your surgery? 09/28/11 is the wrong year, isn't it?

Unfortunately, if your insurance company does not pay for fills, I doubt they will pay for a revision.

I had a band to sleeve revision and it was covered under my insurance; however, I had complications with my band and that was why the revision was approved.

I'm glad you found this site and I hope you can find a solution to your concerns.

Best,
Lindsey

complications -> self pay -> revision to sleeve.

First congratulations on your wedding! Sorry to hear about your financial hardship, but the good news about the band it will be waiting for you get your finances in order and there is no deadline or "window of opportunity for weight loss with the band", RNY, and the Sleeve will give you a bigger boost of weight loss in the beginning due to a very hard recovery "Sleeve" (due to potential dumping for RNY and the Sleeve) and malabsorption helps RNY patients in the beginning, but that goes away, but the band will be there with you forever as long as it is not damaged you can always get back on track to pay for fills when your financial situation gets better.

Also I doubt any insurance will cover a revision due to the fact you are not following up with needed aftercare and fills with the band, you are not fully giving your band a chance, and could be considered being irresponsible on your part.


Once the band is properly adjusted it should not cost you anymore money, unless you need a small fill or any small unfills.

I don't want to burst your bubble but consider yourself lucky if you got the band, with RNY and the Sleeve it will cost you MORE MONEY in the long run with yearly labs, some must get iron infusions, or injections B12 shots, and they must take vitamins for LIFE, which can get costly for many people with the Sleeve not as much but many report long term vitamin deficiencies and dumping with the Sleeve, as long as lap banders eat the proper band diet they don't suffer vitamin deficiencies.

I am going on 7 years post op, I've had many fills and unfills, but again, my insurance covered most of that cost, and it was a small price to pay to keep me complication free and at a stable healthy weight loss, I knew this was a possibility prior to getting the band during my research, but now I live carefree with no fills or aftercare since my band is well healed and I have good restriction and I don't have to worry about malabsorption issues or have a high cost of vitamins or labs.

Sometimes quicker weight loss is not always long lasting or better, do you read all these post of people who have BOBS, after a few years out of RNY? They end up getting the lap band over their bypass since their bypass no longer works after a few years. They lose the restriction, but still have malabsorption and dumping issues forever.