Can the Lap Band be removed?

Does any one here know whether or not the Lap band can be removed after a person is at goal weight for a period of time? I was just talking to a friend who has a sister that is trying to have her band removed. She has been at goal weight for two years now and she had the procedure done in Mexico. He says that she swears that the surgeon told her that she could have the band removed after maintaining goal for a period of two years. Would any one care to take a stab at this.

Yes they can be removed. My doctor told me she removes about one a week.

One of the big marketing points they make about the band is it can be removed. I don't know about removing it because shes at goal weight for XXX mount of time, I haven't heard that. I also think because it was done in Mex she may have to go back ther. It may be better for her to go back to the Dr who did it originally.

The Dr who done the surgery has alledgedly died from a cocaine overdose and she is willing to return to another Dr there if she has to but she was hoping to have it done locally.

Why would she want to? It seems to me if it took the lap band to loose the weight and you remove it, that the possibility to regain the weight would multiply greatly. I realize that she has maintained her weight for two years, but I would think the band played some part in being able to do that. I had Lap RNY because I felt that if I didn't make a permanent change I would just regain it like I have done before. pan head

i agree with panhead. i would tell her it has to be removed through your anus and the patient has to be awake for the procedure. why mess with something that worked? i sure wouldn't ask to have my guts rewired just because i got to goal. jeez.......carbonblob

Ditto and Amen to Panhead's logic. Me too on the RNY. I wanted a procedure that would be a lifestyle change. I got it.  And its working.

Well, as a lap-band patient who has reached his goal. There is no way i am having mine removed! If I have it removed, I moght as well have just dieted. I have lost weight before (although not nearly this much) and it was the keeping it off that I was a failure at. I need my band to keep me here.

I agree with Pan Head, CB, Joe, et. al.  that if the lap band is removed, the weight is likely to increase as well.  I have heard of people having it removed if they had cancer and could not get all of their nutrition in, but for the most part, it should be thought of as permanent.

Hey brother, I was told by my surgeon, that the band can be removed, BUT it is highly likely that I would gain the weight back (plus more) in time, because the stomach will be back to it's full size again...