Fear Not for your Aftercare - The Lap Band is STILL the most popular and the second...

If you are scared out of your wits that they will close shop on aftercare and they will stop performing the lap band THINK AGAIN....ALTHOUGH it's very sad and dis-hearting that MANY people were mislead about how the lap band works DESPITE....ALL THE DOCUMENTATION from REPUTABLE hospitals and surgeons. --- Hell you can just google how the lap band works and it will give you a good idea.

If you got your band placed wrong or by some fly by night center --THIS IS WHERE YOU SHOULD HAVE DONE YOUR HOMEWORK ON FINDING A SURGEON IDEALLY OF CENTER OF EXCELLENCE with a GOOD TRACK RECORD -- That still is not bullet proof that your banding experience will be great, but it is first defense on a good banding life.

Also I don't get it...when people say their bands fail, but they did not have complications, nothing is mechanically wrong....it works but they don't like it? Is it that they can't follow a healthy diet and exercise and lose weight is this what they are complaining about?

My surgeon's office in northern Virgina...ONLY DOES LAP BANDS AND NOTHING ELSE...and their practice is STILL BOOMING..WITH HAPPY LAP BANDERS.....IN FACT, MY SURGEON'S OFFICE IS SEEING MORE BYPASS PEOPLE AND SLEEVE PEOPLE SEEKING LAP BAND's BECAUSE THEIR POUCH/STOMACH HAS STRETCHED AFTER A FEW YEARS....THAT IS A FACT -- THIS IS WHY THEY ONLY DO LAP BANDS. my previous surgeon who installed my band, was MORE OF A GASTRIC BYPASS SURGEON -- NOT REALLY DEDICATED TO BANDED PATIENTS...he was a great surgeon who IS PART OF THE CENTER OF EXCELLENCE...but I got my band placed when it was pretty new in the US at the time, and we had some issues with filling my band properly...IT WAS NOT MY BAND....IT WAS HIS FILL GIVERS NOT KNOWING WHAT THEY WERE DOING....SO....INSTEAD OF REMOVING MY LAP BAND...I CHANGED SURGEONS TO A SURGICAL PRACTICE THAT SPECIALIZE IN LAP BANDS ONLY...AND IT HAS BEEN SMOOTH SAILING WITH MY FILLS EVERY SINCE.....if you can't get a good fill...the lap band can be worthless.....

My lap band has been partially unfilled since December (by choice) and I've gained some weight back, -- it's not my band's fault that I've gained 40 pounds, but I have hope and will be going to get it filled in a week and get back on track ...

I am happy that I STILL have a functioning band and can still use it at 7 years...many other weight loss surgeries do not work at 7 years post op, so I can't say anything bad about my band because it has helped me in many ways.... by the way I got my band placed with an INAMED lap band...not when Allergan took over....not sure if that matters or not... I have very high quality lap band the 4cc 10/ml band -- and it still works and function properly at 7 years despite having many many fills/unfills.

Despite what the Band Bashers say....the Lap Band is SECOND to the Gastric Bypass in terms of numbers of people who have them and it IS the second the most perform bariactric surgery ...based on WEBMD date 2012 http://www.webmd.com/diet/weight-loss-surgery/gastric-banding-surgery-for-weight-loss .

Gastric banding is considered the least invasive weight loss surgery. It is also the safest. The procedure can be reversed if necessary, and in time, the stomach generally returns to its normal size. Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding -- the most common restrictive surgery ;

The DS is STILL a RARE surgery outside of this board, and the Sleeve HAS NOT caught up with the band outside of this board in terms of numbers of people STILL getting bariatric surgery....

THERE ARE MANY lap banding only websites for support if you need it...many people have left this site due to all the negativity here and this site has now has more BAND revision patients than people with lap bands. In fact, this board is becoming a revision board for ALL TYPES of weight loss surgeries, since RNY has matured in the US...many people have gained their weight back and seeking revisions, etc....in other words...WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY IS NO LONGER NEW TO THE US...and you have the RESULTS OF DISGRUNTLE PEOPLE HERE....and ALL THE EXCITEMENT IS GONE....

The Sleeve is STILL NEW in the US...and the board is still thriving with support on this site...but I am sure as the Sleeve matures...just like RNY, and the lap band....the dynamics of that forum will change as well...REMEMBER...back in the day...2006-2008? The lap band board was the most popular and used...just like the Sleeve board.....BUT...there is a difference...if something goes wrong with the band it can be removed..and people move on..

Also the lap band is STILL the number ONE surgical method in Europe and Australia and has been for over 25 years, so why is the band so much of a problem in the US?

I know why? It's just like the good ole USA have many schemers out there lurking for naive obese people...when I went to California last year I was SHOCKED when I saw advertisements of the lap band on bill boards as if it was trending designer dress...lol...THIS IS SERIOUS SURGERY....despite...what people say...the medical community STILL says it is the safest of all weight loss surgeries....

If you got your band placed from a surgery center that GUARANTEED WEIGHT LOSS WITH NOT MUCH EFFORT and NOT follow up with band fills and or needed unfills, that includes exercise, and following a band healthy diet.....and you were the victim of false adverstisement...well...SHAME ON THAT SURGERY CENTER AND SHAME ON YOU FOR NOT DOING YOUR OWN HOMEWORK AND RESEARCH FOR HOW THE LAP BAND WORKS....

 have had my band for 3 years, a couple of unfills for minor problems, resolved easily, after a long stall in my weight loss journey, have finally begun losing again. How? I started to do daily walking and joined a gym, go figure lol 

A couple of things, Nana.  I had no choice to go to the surgeon I went to, initially.  There were NO WLS clincs in the state of New Mexico, and my insurance company only contracted with that one surgeon out of Texas.  He was a HORRIBLE surgeon, for sure.  Thank goodness he left the state and my insurance company assigned me to a very good surgeon down in El Paso.  So, if you can't afford to pay out of pocket, it's not always the patient's fault if they end up with a bad surgeon.

Secondly, when I had a revision to the sleeve a little over a month ago, my surgeon noted that my band was still in a good position and not slipped.  (since the two years he re-positioned it after the slip).  So I TECHINICALLY didn't have a malfunction with the band.  However, as he said, some people's bodies are just more sensitive to the silicone band wrapped around their stoma.  Swelling ensues and getting unfills only help for short periods of time. 

I seemed to be one of those people.  My band had very little saline in it, yet my band refused to let me eat healthy meats and veggies most of the time.  I did end up turning to slider foods after fighting this for 4 years.  It was so frustrating, and heartbreaking.  I felt like a failure.  I can now eat meats and veggies without a problem and I am very thankful for that.  I know now that *I* wasn't the failure...my band and body and just didn't like each other. 

I wish you continued success.

Melly,

I know you are honest and you gave your band your best shot, you are not a failure, the band just not works for everyone anatomy....the problem is those that abused their tool try to piggyback on  the people that had legitimate issues and tell those who still have lap bands that we are all doomed and will get it removed eventually.....this is the problem I HAVE WITH BAND BASHERS...

I could care less if someone bash THEIR lap band every single hour on this forum...if they had a bad experience THEY SHOULD SHOUT and VENT ABOUT IT....

PROBLEM IS...SO MANY BASHERS HAVE EVIL AGENDAS AND THAT IS TO DESTROY THIS FORUM...AND HARASS NEWBIES AND THOSE WHO STILL HAVE A LAP BAND AND TELL US WE ARE ALL DOOMED TO GET IT REMOVED...IN OTHER WORDS IF THEY DID NOT ENJOY THEIR BANDS THEY WILL MAKE SURE NO ONE ELSE WILL EITHER....AND THAT IS EVIL...

I wish you much success with your Sleeve! Let us know how you are doing and post pictures....

I will send updates periodically.....I haven't seen a picture parade on the Lapband board in a long time.  Maybe you need to start one!

 I agree, which is why I spend more time at Lap Band Talk...

Yes SHAME on STANFORD and DR. JOHN MORTON extremely bad aftercare , am grateful after 3 years my insurance allowed me to go to someone who cared !!!!
If your insurance makes you go to STANFORD or any hospital in the UC system...runnnnn change insurance co. if possible