Cost of band removal?

Hi everyone,

I had my band placed in June, 2008. I am pretty sure that my band has slipped an maybe even have some erosion. I would seriously consider having it removed if my insurance covered it. We were private pay to have it placed and our insurance will pay nothing on weight loss surgery. I do not have the money to have the band removed at this time, but I am curious as to how much the surgery costs? Any information that you can provide would be very helpful.

Sincerely, René

My insurance paid for the removal but not the sleeve revision.  I paid cash money for the sleeve and my share of the expenses associated with the band removal was $117.63.

If you are paying cash money to have the band removal, count on it being on par with whatever you paid for the placement in the first place.  Same degree of skill required.

If you think your band has slipped, you need to get to your bariatric surgeon to at least have the darn thing unfilled, if not removed.  You are running a risk that would endanger your health.

You must go see your bariatric surgeon to get this checked out. This is not something to mess around with. Have your surgeons insurance guru check to see if they can get anything past your insurance company. Sometimes there are exceptions. I sure wish you the best. Keep us posted, please.

If you have slipped I think you would know it because it usually causes a lot of pain and inability to eat solids. Also I doubt you could tell if it was eroded because they rarely know that until they get inside during band removal. Just regaining weight isn't a sign of a slip or erosion it is merely a sign that for you like a great many of us the band didn't and would never work for any of us. Now if you think the band is having a problem you must see your surgeon to have it evaluated. By the way even if they tell you it is perfectly situated doesn't mean you don't have problems because even properly positioned it can be eroded into the stomach or have a great deal of scar tissue built up underneath it. So you HAVE to get this evaluated before it endangers not only your stomach and band but your life.

Hi Rene',

What kinds of symptoms are you experiencing that makes you think you have erosion?

Sometimes if you hit the ER, they can document your situation and your insurance might cover it, if it's an emergency surgery. However, band removal requires a very skilled surgeon, so make sure whomever does your surgery has knowledge of bariatrics.

I agree with the others who said that this is not something you want to wait on. The band is damaging just under normal cir****tances... when it's slipped or eroded, it's urgent.

Good luck, take care, and I hope you get taken care of soon.

I was self pay for my band -- and it cost 12,000 for an out-patient procedure that took about 40 minutes.

The band itself probably cost about 3,000 - 4,000 ---- so that charge would be included in removal ---- but removal may be a more difficult surgery -- depending on how carefully it has to be 'cut out'

If I had to estimate, I would think that removal will cost the same as placement.

I had my band removed and revised to the Sleeve 5 weeks ago. 
The total cost was over $65K.  My insurance approved the removal.  I paid cash for my LapBand in 2008 because my insurance refused payment.  I am assuming half was the removal.  My removal was complicated by a lot of scar tissue and my tubing was wrapped around my internal organs.  Please see your surgeon ASAP.

I hope you are feeling better.

If you have a slip and/or erosion you need to deal asap.  The removal will cost different from surgeon to surgeon or if you do it here or Mexico.  You might want to check out the Mexico site.