Lap Band Slip and Converted?

Has anyone else had an issue with their lapband slipping? I was recently hospitalized when mine slipped. The way the band slipped it put pressure on my small intestines and cause a blockage. They removed the fluid from the band allowing the blockage to clear. But now I am facing having surgery to have the band removed. I have seen 3 different surgeons who all say it has to come out. Since it's slipped, my insurance will cover having any other weight loss procedure done I choose.  The thing that struck me is all 3 surgeons said that the slip rate for bands now is about 50%. I am almost 5 years out and thought I was really doing well. Two of the surgeons said they no longer even do lapbands because of issues with them.

Anyone out there had their lapband converted? I am thinking about having an RNY. My surgeon says he can remove the band and do the RNY in one operation. That is what I plan on doing so I can minimize the amount of time I have to take off work. I'd love to hear from anyone who's been through it. My husband had an RNY done 8 years ago so I understand all the post-op issues with the RNY. Just wondering if it's worse because they also remove the band.

It's too bad you are so rushed to make a decision. I personally think the VSG is a better option than RnY, but it's just my opinion. I have a VERY strong opinion about bands... I think they stink and they're a horrible idea. A lot of doctors are refusing to do them anymore. And I believe that will continue to be the case as more and more people are damaged by them.

You might want to do some heavy duty "studying" before you have to have your band removed. I had mine removed in an emergency surgery over 7 years ago. Too much damage to revise.

I wish you the best of luck. Read all the surgical forums and the revisions forum, for sure. But also use Google... especially in regard to what the complications are to each individual surgery. Be prepared for everything... good and bad.

You would be horrified to know how many bands slip and require a revision!!!! Five years ago we were all told how safe and effective they were now the federal government is asking why there is only a 50% success rate and so many failures. A far cry from what we were told! Many many surgeons refuse to do them anymore so you are far from alone!

I lost my band this year due to my body over reacting to it and attempting to reject. I revised to a sleeve. The operation was one procedure and went well. However, even though there was no scar tissue around the band removing it caused some massive swelling. My surgeon said that it does sometimes happen when removing the band but mine was by far the most dramatic he has seen. Most never have a problem. My recuperation did not go smoothly but it was just me, I guess. There wasn't anything that couldn't be resolved. I am doing very well now and am beginning to love my sleeve. I still miss my band, though. It was more flexible for me.

I can't advise you about the RNY but you obviously know about the loss of caloric malabsorption after 2 -3 years. To me that is the big downside of bypass. If you can deal with that you should be fine. Another consideration is DS. You get the malabsorption that doesn't stop and the stomach of a sleeve. Please do your research, there aren't any do overs here. 

First of all NO OFFENCE TO ANYONE WITH THE LAPBAND.......But I just went to a recent seminar Friday and my surgeon says Lapband in 6 yrs will have to come out for 1 reason or another......He suggested the Realize band says theirs less problems with it......

yep. it's why i went realize, seemed to be less complications with it. ::crossed fingers:: so far haven't had any issues with it and only two unfills (one from being overfilled and one moving restriction so i can eat enough for baby)

Realize bands can slip and erode just like AP bands. AP bands are implanted MORE than Realize bands and surgeons favor the AP band system over Realize bands. So you will have more problems with AP bands because more people have them. More US surgeons use the lap band system because they have been around longer and have longer track records.

This is why you don't have many people on the Realize forum because more surgeons favor and install the AP band system over the Realize band since the lap band system have a longer track record. If AP band were worse than Realize bands surgeons would stop using AP bands. The lap band is still the most used bands worldwide and since so many people have them, you will have more complications, but overall the new AP band system is pretty safe and much safer than the older band model that I had over  7 years ago.

Again, safety greatly depends on the surgeon who installs the band and patient education and compliance.

How well did you do with your LapBand?  I did really well with mine until it stopped working and tried to strangle my internal organs (the tubing did!) Anyway, my surgeon says that former LapBanders who were very successful will be very successful with the Sleeve and should consider revising to that instead of the RNY.  I was wondering if you chose the RNY or your surgeon did.

I absolutely love mine!  I am so happy!

Slips are extremely common. Mine slipped as well. The complication**** eventually with the band. You were actually very lucky to have made it as long as you did before it happened. Most bandsters revise to VSG, but I think RNY and DS are excellent options as well. Good luck!