newbie, starting the journey

I am going on 7 years post with my band and it is still working, I've had several fills throughout my journey. I got my band back in 2005 when it was still pretty new to the US, (the band has been in Europe and Australia for over 25 years and still the primarily weight loss choice there) my previous surgeon really did not know how to tweak my band properly so I changed to a surgeon that is dedicated and only do lap bands, if you are thinking about the Band I would suggest you do the same thing.

Band slippage IS RARE if you are responsible with your band (MANY PEOPLE ARE NOT) meaning.... if you follow up with your surgeon as needed and stay in touch with them if you have any fill issues (too tight), you have no worries. However, there is RISK with any type of weight loss surgery even the lap band, it is not without its issues and problems, but most problems that happen with the band are easily fixed, there are a few cases where the patient body may reject the band or the surgeon installed it wrong or the patient had rare tubing issues, but overall most of the problems are in the patients hands since WE DETERMINE HOW TIGHT WE KEEP OUR BANDS and we are in the driver seat whether we suffer unnecessary band slippages.

At nearly 7 years post op, I have never had any issues that was not easily fixed, I lost over 130 pounds, I went from a size 26 to size 10, I can eat what I want no consequences of dumping or getting sick with carbs or occasional sweets if I want them, unlike some Sleevers or RNYers, my life is totally normal, the only difference is I can't eat much.

Fills has been a very easy process for me, my surgeon has always numbed me and it has take about 1 minute, sometimes there is a little sting, but nothing that lasts more than a second, so getting unfills and fills has been pretty easy for me, however they can get expensive depending on where you live and if you don't have insurance, this is the downside of the band, and unfortunately a lot of people cannot afford the upkeep and suffer band slippage if they get too tight and damage their band beyond repair and have to get it removed. If you have the money for the upkeep there is nothing to really worry about.

I would not trade my band at 7 years with ANY OTHER weight loss surgery because I do not and still do not want to get my stomach removed or insides rearranged or deal with the side effects these other surgeries have, this is why I take GOOD care of my band and do not take it for granite....good luck on your research.

Edited to add: If you do decide on the band, make sure you get a surgeon that has done over 500 bands and ideally a member of the Center of Excellence.

Also here is a link and Guide to how the lap band works:
http://www.laplose.com/Media/Forms/LapBandDietGuideNew.pdf

I never took my band for granted, either. I always knew it was there because it was killing me. It was like someone was standing next to me with a butcher knife, stabbing it into my shoulder and abdomen nonstop. That's truly what it felt like.  No amount of "money for upkeep" was helping me in this situation. I never had my band filled for more than a couple of hours. I was never able to eat solid foods, ever. None of this had anything to do with how tight my band was or how "responsible" I was... and it wasn't "easily fixed," that's for sure.

I'm glad that you've had a relatively pain-free time with your band, but I really get sad hearing you tell of how the damage is "easily fixed". It's not true at all. There's nothing easy about fixing the damage caused by a lapband, believe me. I was having mine OUT at the time you were having yours done... and I still have damage from it.  It still affects every aspect of my life AND I've regained the weight I lost while starving and becoming malnourished during my time banded, so it's like I went through all of that pain for nothing. What I thought was going to be my long term solution turned out to be a cruel and torturous procedure.

 N.M, I've heard your story countless times and I am sorry that you had to endure such horrible problems with your band, it seems as though your surgeon installed it wrong from the git-go and I am sure that was a nightmare and left you with permanent damage to your body. You got your surgery at a time when many US surgeons was new to the band and many did not install it properly or use improved techniques.

Again, I am sorry that you had such a hard time, but nowadays with improved approaches in band techniques band slippages are pretty rare, you still may have some surgeons that are not band friendly and offer horrible afercare, but overall patients NON compliance nowadays is driving up the complication rate which is sad.

No doubt I had an atrocious surgeon (who is still performing lapband surgeries left and right, I'm sure.)  I know people get sick and tired of hearing about my experience. I mean, I would, too. But I still think it's important that I share with potential banding patients what kinds of things can and do happen. It's not that I think I'm always right and that my experience will be what everyone experiences, but I have seen enough people have similar things happen.

The thing is, I have known a few dozen people in real life who got banded in 2003 or thereabouts and out of all of them, only 3 still have bands. And they have had to have subsequent operations, too.  
Another lady from my small support group is revising this week. She's had her band for about 7 years and  she just found out that it has eroded into her stomach. I've watched it over and over and over. It's like a horrible nightmare. I truly hate to see people in pain.

I'm thankful I had a pioneer in bariatric surgery to remove my band or I can't even imagine how much worse off I'd be today. But yes, I do have permanent damage from the band... and it's a hard thing to deal with. It's such a strange set of problems... for the year after band removal while my diaphragm was trying to heal, I had chronic hiccuping and sneezing. I passed out more times than I can count. I'd gasp for breath while the pain in my shoulder just kept slamming into me.

Then, I tried to keep the weight off by working out daily. Every time I'd move "wrong," I'd feel a twinge in my left side and get horrible pain in my left shoulder and start sneezing. It was dangerous and absolutely caused me tons of despair. I never knew if I was going to start sneezing, be unable to catch my breath, and pass out  in the street or something. It sounds so ridiculous, the chronic sneezing, but after  being in chronic pain from the band for 2 years, I was exhausted, to say the least. And then it felt as if I had been much healthier as a fat person than I was as a size 10 person. I just wanted to be able to exercise without putting myself in pain. And I felt even worse that my banding experience had made even that hard for me. Where was I supposed to go at that point, you know? I didn't have a weight loss surgical tool, whenever I worked out, I would almost pass out, AND I still had pain from the damage the band caused.. So, I fully admit that I was bitter about my situation. I would imagine anyone would be if they were in the same situation.

After my diaphragm healed at least a little, that awful set of problems lessened a little, at least. But, even now, over 6 years since band removal, I get left shoulder pain from the diaphragmatic damage. It's hard to get over the bad banding experience when there's a constant reminder of it. I'm always happy for people who have successful banding experiences, but it's really hard for me to NOT say something when I fully believe that the lapband is a dangerous procedure. I'd feel as if I were encouraging someone to do something painful if I didn't speak up about it. I don't believe the new techniques are any better... and only because our bodies are still the same. The stomach reacts poorly to being touched by a foreign object. Granted, some people have worse reactions than others, but the fact that you won't know until AFTERWARD whether you're one of the lucky ones or not. And the damage can be absolutely horrible. I really feel for ALL of us who have to opt for WLS. It's a tough decision to make. I only wish I knew then what I know now.

 

Nicci, you know that I fully accept the band can cause damage! But I .was interested to note the dates in your post. The new pars flaccida technique of implantation started to be generally used in 2005, although some surgeons were still using the older technique much later than that.  I understand it is a greatly improved method.

Kate

Hi Kate,

I really believe that the method makes no difference because our human anatomy still reacts badly, no matter the technique used. The soft tissue of the stomach and the membranous diaphragm don't like being touched, not to mention, squeezed. Sooner or later, it causes unfortunate consequences in most people, from what I've seen and experienced.

From what I've gathered, the pars flaccida technique is simply named for the area of the omentum where the surgical tools initially enter.  It suggests that it helps with slippage issues, but doesn't affect the referred left shoulder pain that is so prevalent with banding.  The pars flaccida method has also been linked to acute post operative esophageal obstruction at the level of the band. I think this is why so many people also complain of esophageal issues. The fat pads cause obstruction in that area.  In my own opinion, there's just no getting around the multitude of health issues that a band around a stomach causes. It's conceptually a good idea, but in reality, fails to really be a safe solution. But, that's just my opinion, I realize.  All I can do is share my experience in the hopes that no one else will go through the same thing.

Nicci

People probably do NOT "take for granite" the idea that "several fills" translates to WELL over five dozen last time you 'fessed up...realistically an adjustment every six weeks for seven years is too many for most people...unless they are "involved" with the doctor.

 Getting on for 6 years out. Still love my band but I did have to have a leak repaired about 14 months  ago.

Things  can go wrong. With any surgery! I just looked at the new board a lot of people have moved to and was interested to see that most of those posting on their revisions board are RNY people!  Does that make RNY a " bad" surgery? No!  All surgeries have issues.

You cannot avoid problems if they are coming your way,  but you can work to minimise them. Our stats here in the UK are much better than in the  US. We have the same op, so there must be a lifestyle factor which works in our favour.

I do not have national statistics for just the UK but two major private hospital groups snd my own local National Health Service trust give the same figures, around 2-3% slips, 1% erosions, about 5% re-op rates. A German study gave similar figures but that was published in 2006.

Kate

 Almost 7 years here, no complication. After 3 years, stopped seeing the surgeon, and have been on autopilot. I gain a few pounds, I take them off. My clothes are the same as 5 years ago. I am in control of my weight like most normal weight people are. I cannot pig out, and miss that pity party occasionally, but mostly am so greatful to feel good about myself. I have to eat slowly and carefully, and it is harder in a group setting like the break room at work, and I have had my runs to the bathroom to gather myself. Most people I have met recently don't know I have lap band. When I was getting it and losing weight, I told everybody. I think of it like a pacemaker for the stomach. And yes I had a great surgeon, and great after care. Would I gain the weight back without it, I think so because I am an emotional eater, and crave sweets.

I have never had a band, Thank God.  All of the people that I know that had a band have had nothing but trouble with them.  I don't look at people who post on a web page because they can post anything that they want.  Go talk to people who actually have had a band and talk with several surgeons and get their input.