Did you actually read this paper?  Do you fully understand how to interpret the data?  Can you find anywhere in this, or any other peer reviewed journal article, where your claims about stomach re-growth are substantiated?  This paper deals with a possible correlation between bougie size and leaks.  And the findings are pretty weak to even substantiate that a definite correlation exists.  What it does point out is an EWL that is superior to what I have seen in the literature for adjustable gastric banding. 

CONCLUSIONS

LSG is a safe and effective primary weight-loss operation with mean 70% EWL at 3 years, a leak rate of 2.2%, an overall mor- tality of 0.32%, and a leak-related mortality of 0.11%. Our meta- analysis of 9991 LSG patients suggests that utilizing bougie size ≥40 Fr may decrease leak without significantly impacting weight loss up to 3 years. Buttressing does not seem to impact leak rate. Distance from the pylorus does not impact leak rate or weight loss. If surgeons desire to buttress the staple line, bioabsorbable material is the most commonly used type. Longer-term studies are needed to definitively determine the effect of bougie size on weight loss after LSG.  - Parikh et.al. (Ann Surg 2012;00: 1–7) 

Scar Tissue overgrowth!  Scar Tissue that caused my LapBand to suddenly tighten after 5 years of perfect Band experience.  A tubing that was tightly wrapped around my omentum!  The scar tissue so bad that he had to cut my LapBand out of my stomach. 

There do you want more specifics?  I lost 270lbs with the Lapband, it was the perfect experience until I woke up one night with a mouth full of acid, choking from the burning!

I would say, this isn't your place!  Maybe you should be honest and say what you're really here to do.

I do work in the industry, I have seen people with dismotility issues, I've seen people with autoimmune issues caused by the lapband.  I have no vendetta against the Band, it saved my life, but it malfuctioned and I had to have it removed.

People come here to hear all the stories, the good and the bad.  Unfortunately, people like you who have never gone through what we have, don't understand that the LapBand CAN and DOES malfunction EVEN if we are 1000% compliant.

When anyone makes the statement that "the band works if you follow the rules" you are not being totally honest and you are causing people to be Banding under the false statement that ALL they have to do it follow the rules and all will be perfect!  I am proof that is just not true!

Agree - the band has effects that have nothing to do with the behavior of the person. 

But there are things people can do to make the band worse- and some of that is the way we thought it worked years ago. Plus there are clearly surgical methods for the band have changed leading to lower erosion rates

Scar tissue under the 9.75 band has been a problem- and has nothing NOTHING to do with the patient (in my opinion - which apparently isn't worth much)

...LilSleeved, I just had to respond to you that of course this is your place. You are a wonderful resource and the board is lucky to have your participation.

And LilSleeved has shared all info with us, even if the whole history wasn't put in this post, and why should it?  It was shared with the people it could help.

thank you Pineview! 

I guess, I didn't repeat the whole story in that original response, but I guess, I just didn't think he would care since he was already tearing everyone down for their stories and blaming the Bander.

Thank you BuckeyeGirl.

I appreciate your kind words.  I do not think I have come here ever to bash the band.  I come here and tell my story. Granted, I didn't tell him my story in my original response, but I did now.  I do not think telling the story is a bad thing.  I may not have been banded in 2008, had I known the issues that were possible.  At that time, no one spoke of any problems other than the occasional "sliming or stuck episode" - I had neither until my band started tightening and then I was sliming on water.

I would not wish serious problems on anyone.

I would also not wish anyone to get a tool, trust that tool to work the way it is advertised and then fail to reach their goal.  I have seen it happen with friends and I feel very bad for them.  As I mentioned previously, the LapBand is not guarenteed to give you positive weight loss, no one can guarentee restriction and finding their "sweet spot" -- if you don't find it, you won't ever have the tool work properly.  I kept my fills to a minimum because I had read that was the way to avoid problems.  It kept me safe from problems for a long time, but once that scar tissue had grown, I was no longer safe.

http://azmd.gov/GLSuiteWeb/Repository/0/0/5/1/9d7ac0ea-1ef5- 46a6-8a00-9a4827c4d738.pdf

http://www.outpatientsurgery.net/news/2011/01/24-jury-awards -1-38-million-for-gastric-banding-death

http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ASMBS/20919

http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/Obesity/25456

http://www.aboutlawsuits.com/lap-band-side-effects-additiona l-surgery-17088/

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/video/lap-band-surgery-falls-13 193458

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-05-07/allergan-receive s-u-dot-s-dot-subpoena-over-weight-loss-device

BTW Dr. Simpson, you might want to read OH TOS where it is clear not to be hateful, abusive, or harassing to members.  Telling them it is all user error and not the band is unproductive since you do not know their medical history, you are not their surgeon, and telling people to go away makes you look like an arrogant person who does not work and play well with others.