8 years out....

This is my first post and hoping to get some feedback or maybe help someone else.  8 years ago today 8/31 I got my lap band.  Best decision I ever made.  Lost 100 lbs.  In the last year I have noticed I can eat more than before and gained 10 lbs.  An upper GI showed that I had some slippage so we emptied my band hoping the problem will take care of itself. There is a possibility I will need a revision surgery and I have been looking into a sleeve.  The more I think about it I realize I do not want any cutting of my organs, which is why I went with a band in the first place.  When all is said and done if I need another surgery I will opt for another band.  bottom line...reversible and removable.  Once you cut there is no going back. I have heard of a new procedure called plication which can be done with the band.  Anyone know anything about this?  I will have my 2nd upper GI on Sept. 19th and will find out where things stand.     Thanks for reading.  Take Care.

Just remember that the damage the band can cause is often not reversible.  

I'm afraid you may end up very disappointed, second lap bands rarely work well and usually end up slipping just like the first one did. All I can say about the plication is run away as fast as possible. This is a dangerous surgery and very experimental (usually not covered by most insurance) The few people I've known who had it were very badly damaged in the long run because the folded/stitched or stapled part tends to die causing permanent damage to the stomach. Which then ends up leaving you with a sleeve anyway, but when it is done because of the damage you may end up with a very small sleeve depending on how much damage is involved. I know of 2 people who started with bands, went to plications/w bands and ended up losing their entire stomachs. Not a fun way to live.

On the other hand I know of many, many others who have just revised directly to the sleeve and have done amazingly well, losing better than they ever did with their bands. The sleeve has been around since the early 40's for cancer and ulcer surgery, also as the first part of the DS surgery for weight loss. It is a well proven weight loss surgery and a very normal way of eating, just much smaller amounts. If I could have revised to another surgery when I had my band removed I would have had a sleeve in a heartbeat.

You may even have difficulty finding a surgeon to put a band in because so many are not doing them anymore. Even the Mayo Clinic has stopped using them because they are so ineffective for most people and cause such serious damage to many of us. The band is removable but the damage it causes most people is not reversible. I wish you good luck but please research your choices very carefully!

Hello..

I have not been on this board in a very long time, (out living and loving life). I will be 9 years out this month, and I love my lap band too. I had my band placed back in 2005, the older 4cc/10m Inamed band, they no longer use those bands because they were harder on the body and were more prone to slippage.

I got a new band placed almost 2 years ago,  (due to hiatal hernia repair, the older bands don't unbuckle, so it had to be removed),  I have not had not 1 problem with my new band, the only issue I've had is if I  try to eat thick bread I will get the slimies, other than that no issues, I no longer have to take acid reducers.

There are MANY that revised to the Sleeve from the band, and they said they had more restriction with the band and the Sleeve is more of a diet.

Like you, I did not want my stomach cut in the first place the reason I opted for the band, and I still do not want it cut ever, this is no disrespect for those who opted for the Sleeve.

I love my band and banded life and I don't want to give it up, I have no side effects or sickness, I can eat all foods, I just can't eat but a small amount and it keeps my weight down.

I just got back from vacation and I love wearing my size 12 clothes, without killing myself, I am 5'7 so I am very happy and content, and having my little secret weapon to keep my meals small no one knows I have a band.

Good luck whatever you decide.

Oh...I forgot to add, yes there are many on another popular board getting banded plication, it gives you more restriction from the git-go without having to wait to get the band filled up, (which can take several months), many say they love it, you still have your stomach, the only thing is that they fold the stomach and put the band on it, for back-up for years down the road if you need restriction, you can have it adjusted.

I've been away for a while. I'm in another support group on FB. Anyway, when I was faced with the choice I went with another band. I have not had any major problems with this band. Bread and thick meats get stuck, but that's about it. I have not had a fill in more than a year, and I going to get one soon.

My weight loss was slower with the band; I thought I made the wrong choice, but I have learned that this is the right choice for me.

good luck and I know you will make the choice that's right for you;-)

  I so appreciate you taking the time to read and respond.  Thank you so much.  The sleeve is a definite possibility that I will continue to look into.  As i mentioned in my original post I just have a fear of the cutting...I wish all of you good luck and good health.  This weight loss battle is something we all have in common.  Take Care.

Research all you can about plication.

Basically, they fold the stomach and suture to make a sleeve-like shape .... With no cutting.

Early reports indicated that the folded in part can atrophy or even become necrotic ...... The only thing worse than cutting out the stomach would be leaving it in there if it were dead tissue, in my opinion.

Check it out carefully .... Good luck with your revision.

If you have a concern about the stomach being cut give me a message.  The sleeve has been a life saver after dealing with my band.  The plication comes with it's own set of problems.

Hi.  My fear is the fact that there is no turning back.  You can never put it back together.  The band has been great for me.  I figure after 8 years and maintaining my 100lb weight loss that its not a big deal to take care of the slip and continue on with another band.  I don't know what the long term looks like with the sleeve.  What if the stomach stitches leak?  How would you even know?   A total gastric bypass scares me to death and I have read people with the sleeve have had revisions to bypass because of not losing wight or re-flux, etc..  I would love to get your input.  Thanks for responding.