Here is a great thread on the revision board that you might want to have a look at. 
http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/revision/4424079/How-many- of-us-have-had-to-need-to-be-revised-from-the/

http://www.ndwls.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/surgery_Lant haler_Disappointing-midterm-results-after-laparoscopic-gb.do c.pdf




http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/29/health/research/29prognosi s.html

I have no links. I just can not believe after thorough research anyone would choose tha band in 2012. I chose it in 04, I would never choose it today.

I certainly would not choose it again but I understand that it remains the only option for some folks for various and sundry reasons. If I had the choice of a band or no surgery and knew what I currently know, I would have to elect for no surgery.

I would also elect  NO surgery if my only choices were: band or no surgery. Being fat isn't a whole lot of fun, but having painful, permanent damage is infinitely worse.

 Same here.... 

Totally agree, fat wasn't all that bad for me.

Fat became terrible for me.

I was much healthier before I had surgery. I had pain in my ankle (I broke it when I was about 22.) 

After banding, I have gastritis, ulcers, hiatal hernia, diverticulosis, diaphragmatic damage and Vagus nerve damage.

I'd take some pain in my ankle over the post-banding stuff any day and that's a fact. I thought I was soooo miserable because I was overweight. Little did I know that having chronic pain issues were 1000x worse. The lapband took years off my life, I know this. Not to mention the time I spent in agony, unable to even feel like a human being. 

I'm fat right now... and it's okay! Live and learn, I guess?

I know different people who combined had all the available surgeries and have had problems with all of them. No surgery or procedure is risk free. I've had other procedures including a cavity filled and had problems. That is life. Is it sad when something doesn't work for a person, yes. Do I wish this on people, no.

BUT STOP PICKING ON THE BAND! Iv'e been off this board for a couple of months and its sad to see the same argument.

I have a band and I've had problems but I'm glad I had it done. Being overweight isn't good, it causes health problems immeadiately or down the road. K

I have no regrets about choosing mine. I feel 100% better than I did and my comorbidities are gone (except for the arthritis which is always a problem for me). My band did what I wanted it to. People need to research carefully and choose what is best for them. For me, going without was not an option. I was dying of obesity. Having wls at age 60 saved my life. Any problems since then do not compare to what life was like back then.

I too know people who have had all of the other wls (not on the same person) and all have had problems or failures of one sort or the other. WLS today is still not perfect. There is no perfect, problem free proceedure guaranteed to work for every one. The sleeve was thought to be nearly perfect for those who just need restriction but, sadly, even that has shown problems and failures.

I hope/ wish/pray for the development of a bariatric proceedure that will be the answer to obesity and be problem free for those willing to work their tool. It is still in the future but we can hope. In the meantime we do the best we can.

Blessings to those who hope.

I feel I did all the research I could at the time. Unfortunately the research from Europe wasn’t available to me in ’08. It is only recently that I have seen what Europe is reporting on the ten year out results.I thought my odds were better of avoiding what I am going thru.   With this data in hand, I would not have selected the band.

I have done everything possible to save/not fail my band. My PCP sent me 18 months ago to get it out but, I wanted to try “one more time.” Now even my center is giving up on me.

I'm not here to upset anyone still doing good with the band.  I still have my band and still like to learn and answer questions for others.