Successful Revision - VBG to VSG
Greetings. I am newly sleeved (12/9/10), and loving it. Originally had a VBG in 1997..lost 90 lbs through daily vomiting sessions, and over the years gained it all back...and then some. So yes, it is possible to be revised to a sleeve provided you find a surgeon willing and capable of performing the surgery. I'm on soft foods now for another week and a half, and have just ended a 2wk stall. But the scale is moving again and I'm excited. Anyone else out there a former VBG'er? Or revised to a sleeve?
Hey Angiebaby,
Congratulations on doing so great!
I'm a revised vsg'er. I had the Molina, non-adustable band for 10 years. I too lost some significant weight (65 lbs) in that time but never did it take me down anywhere near my goal weight.
I am glad I had it. It always kept me from eating too fast and making sure I chewed everything to a pulp. It was good training for the vsg I guess.
I think that there are more and more revision people these days. My husband had his lap band placed 3years ago and after his first fill, something went wrong and it stopped holding fluid. He was past his one year mark and the surgeon really had no interest in helping him out in any way. So, he is scheduled to be sleeved on the 28th of this month (by another surgeon of course.) He's gotten an up close and personal look at what the whole surgery and recovery process looks like. I was sleeved on Dec 30,2010.
This is really a great journey with the sleeve and I'm so grateful that we have this wonderful forum to communicate with one another and share our experiences with.
You are in good company here, no doubt about it!!
Congratulations on doing so great!
I'm a revised vsg'er. I had the Molina, non-adustable band for 10 years. I too lost some significant weight (65 lbs) in that time but never did it take me down anywhere near my goal weight.
I am glad I had it. It always kept me from eating too fast and making sure I chewed everything to a pulp. It was good training for the vsg I guess.
I think that there are more and more revision people these days. My husband had his lap band placed 3years ago and after his first fill, something went wrong and it stopped holding fluid. He was past his one year mark and the surgeon really had no interest in helping him out in any way. So, he is scheduled to be sleeved on the 28th of this month (by another surgeon of course.) He's gotten an up close and personal look at what the whole surgery and recovery process looks like. I was sleeved on Dec 30,2010.
This is really a great journey with the sleeve and I'm so grateful that we have this wonderful forum to communicate with one another and share our experiences with.
You are in good company here, no doubt about it!!
Hello angiebaby - I'm a lap band to sleeve revision person, I had my revision surgery just 3 days before you did. I just came out of a 3 week stall...I thought it would never end, but ecstatic that the scale is finally moving again, losing about 1/2 lb per day right now! I hated the band and I love the sleeve! Welcome and good luck with your sleeve!! 
First, a huge congratulations on your revision.
Second, I had a VBG surgery in 1998 and am currently looking for a revision surgeon (hopefully in my area) but at a minium in-network as I can't afford the out of patient costs. Would you mind sharing who your surgeon was, location, etc?
Oddly enough, there seem to be no experienced revision surgeons in the Kansas City area where I live. Lots of doctors who like to be on t.v. talking about how great they are- but first time surgeries are much easier than revisions.
Anyways, again, congrats and I hope you meet your goal. I lost a lot of weight the first year, although I never quite reached my goal and then over the years I also gained it all back- but fortunately not all of it. But, it is a constant struggle, as I have dealt with the daily vomiting sessions just you mentioned too which has led me to eating what they call now "slider foods" because its just easier and heck they tend to taste better. Tell me who doesn't like chocolate? What's funny is all these terms like "slider foods", "dumping syndrome", "5 day pouch test", etc, etc weren't even around when I had surgery, much less support groups. I'm glad to see there has been so much advancement in this area now.
Anyways, you will do well! Please do share your surgeon information, or PM me if you don't want to post it. I really do need to find an experienced and competent revision surgeon.
Thank you
Second, I had a VBG surgery in 1998 and am currently looking for a revision surgeon (hopefully in my area) but at a minium in-network as I can't afford the out of patient costs. Would you mind sharing who your surgeon was, location, etc?
Oddly enough, there seem to be no experienced revision surgeons in the Kansas City area where I live. Lots of doctors who like to be on t.v. talking about how great they are- but first time surgeries are much easier than revisions.
Anyways, again, congrats and I hope you meet your goal. I lost a lot of weight the first year, although I never quite reached my goal and then over the years I also gained it all back- but fortunately not all of it. But, it is a constant struggle, as I have dealt with the daily vomiting sessions just you mentioned too which has led me to eating what they call now "slider foods" because its just easier and heck they tend to taste better. Tell me who doesn't like chocolate? What's funny is all these terms like "slider foods", "dumping syndrome", "5 day pouch test", etc, etc weren't even around when I had surgery, much less support groups. I'm glad to see there has been so much advancement in this area now.
Anyways, you will do well! Please do share your surgeon information, or PM me if you don't want to post it. I really do need to find an experienced and competent revision surgeon.
Thank you
Hi Angiebaby,
I too have VBG in 1991, my staples just came undone 2 months ago and I'm booked for a revision to VSG laproscopic on May 12, 2011.
I haven't found much info on this revision to sleeve--seems like you're the only one so far?!!.
I see you're lovin' your sleeve and doing well. My big question is during the surgery was there any issues with removing that hateful vbg band to give you the sleeve or is the band still in there too? I would thing the tissue under the band would be damaged by now.
How are you noticing the difference from the VBG now that it's sleeved?
I too have VBG in 1991, my staples just came undone 2 months ago and I'm booked for a revision to VSG laproscopic on May 12, 2011.
I haven't found much info on this revision to sleeve--seems like you're the only one so far?!!.
I see you're lovin' your sleeve and doing well. My big question is during the surgery was there any issues with removing that hateful vbg band to give you the sleeve or is the band still in there too? I would thing the tissue under the band would be damaged by now.
How are you noticing the difference from the VBG now that it's sleeved?
Just found out today from a surgeon I was seriously considering for my revision from a VBG to a Sleeve that he didn't think I could have the sleeve. I only faxed in my medical paperwork and he reviewed that and said based on my medical op report that I wouldn't be able to do the sleeve. The office staff was very friendly, but was told I should attend his next seminar and he could discuss with me about his reasons why I couldn't have a sleeve. 
He did say he could do an RNY on me, but I just don't think that's a good route for me. I've seen too many people fail with that procedure long term. I plan to attend his next seminar in 2 wks as I do want to hear his reasons, but do want a 2nd opinion too.
Please, anyone who can give some referrals to GOOD revision surgeons, please share. Preferably within a 100 or 200 mi radius of the Kansas City area.
He did say he could do an RNY on me, but I just don't think that's a good route for me. I've seen too many people fail with that procedure long term. I plan to attend his next seminar in 2 wks as I do want to hear his reasons, but do want a 2nd opinion too.
Please, anyone who can give some referrals to GOOD revision surgeons, please share. Preferably within a 100 or 200 mi radius of the Kansas City area.
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