Does keeping a band loose reduce the risk of band erosion?

My band is fairly loose. I am able to keep my weight down with the lifestyle the band helped me relearn.  I will tighten it if I even Begin to gain weight  but for now I am doing great. I am hoping keeping it mostly unfilled will reduce my risk of erosion, and perhaps other side effects. Does anyone know if the tighness of the band is relational to the side effects?

You are a wise woman! One of the best ways to help avoid band issues is to stay on the loose side and rely on your own control and strength in changing your eating habits. Those with tight bands tend to have a great deal more problems not to mention a miserable life with vomiting and pain. I would also suggest having very small fills to reach a good restriction level so you don't end up starting the fill unfill syndrome which can in itself cause problems. Now all this said is NO guarantee but it will certainly help and people can't accuse you of misusing your tool. Keep up the good work and rely on lifestyle changes more than the band!

Thank you for the advice :)

One would like to think that keeping your band loose makes a big difference.  I do think it makes a difference in your risk of complication, however, I think it doesn't completely remove that risk.

I was the picture perfect Lapbander.  I didn't get my first fill for almost 8 mos post op.  I had restriction from being so obese and having so much fat around my stomach already.  I lost 100lbs in the first 5 mos.  I only had 4 fills in almost 5 years and my band held 14mls - I had 4.2 mls in my band.  I lost 270lbs and followed the rules to the T.  I never ever ever drank wiht my meals.  I waited an hour.  I ate my protein first and chewed very well.  I didn't do things that would cause me to slime.  I hardly ever slimed.  Once on some cooked carrots.

My band started acting up around 4 and a half years in.  I just started having severe reflux, tightening even when I hadn't had a fill in over a year and a half and sliming and vomiting on even water.

I didn't have an erosion or a slip. I had massive amounts of scar tissue.

Yes, keeping your band loose reduces the risk, although, as with any implant, risk cannot be entirely removed.

According to my doctor, the risk of erosion is now less than it used to be because of the way the band is implanted these days. I cannot speak for US stats because they appear to differ wildly from UK ones, but the UK risk of erosion is under 1%.. 

Slips and  oesophageall dilation may also be directly related to tightness, although they can occur for other, not always obvious reasons.

I am sure it wouldn't hurt. I just think its wonderful to use that type of behavior. Means you have really applied great lifestyle skills into practice! We shouldn't lean on our Bands to do all our work. The band is suppose to DIM our appetite, NOT MAKE us stop eating. cause if we ate using it for the HARD stops we can be borrowing trouble. But you are being really mindful by keeping it loose! Smart gurl!!!

Keeping a moderate restrictive band is the best way to go, I've never heard of a band to slip/erosion on a loose band, so you can't go wrong there. No one really knows why the band erodes, some speculate that it has something to do with how the surgeon installed the band, type of band and if someone has "weaken stomach tissues". But MOST erosions come from some type of infection in the body or tubing or port.

I kept my band loose (3.5 cc in 11 cc band) it got tight on its own, I developed pouch dilation and dismotility....there's no guarantee keeping it loose will prevent complications.

I'm sure it doesn't hurt to keep your band on the loose side. I never had fluid in mine and it still damaged me, to be honest, though. My stomach was twisted  into a Figure 8 and it was life threatening. (Man, did that hurt, too.)

I KNOW keeping a band tight is a recipe for disaster. As long as you're feeling comfortable, just keep doing what you're doing.

I only had 3 fills and i have 1.6cc in mine. I decided early on that i just felt like I needed some HELP to lose weight and maintain it. I was never looking for something to cure me with magic. I have to go to the gym and eat lean cuisine for lunch a lot.

The feeling of restriction goes up and down. Every now and then I am AMAZED at eating a giant plate of food and I think - hope this doesn't keep up. But then it's back to normal and sometimes feeling tight all day like it does in the morning.