Sleeve and Lap Band -anyone done this?

I have Aetna so apparently getting them to cover the Sleeve itself is out. I had a surgeon's office tell me though that I could get the Lap Band - which is covered by insurance - and then pay an extra fee (less than $2K) to get the Sleeve done at the same time.  The Sleeve alone would be @$25K self pay and right now I just don't have the money.    Has anyone every had both procedures? Since the Lap Band is ulitmately removable, I am figuring that after a while I can just ask for it to be removed.  The problem is I didn't want the Band bc I read of too many problems including slippage and errosion. thanks. 

Dr. Elrainy? does this in Virginia. I think there are a few people who have done this with him, I believe.  I'm sure they'll chime in. :)

Yes, he is the surgeon.  thanks.

~ Maggie

I don't get it, are you saying they would do the sleeve, leaving your new stomach the size of a small banana, and then put a band around the upper end of it? Doesn't sound feasible to me, but I'm no bariatric surgeon. And I think I would steer clear of any surgeon who suggested it. Just my opinion, Fred

I know the surgeon is legit and he has been doing bariatric surgery for years.  He did recommend more the permanent band as opposed ot the lap band. That's a good point about the stomach being small and the band slipping easier. I will have to make sure to ask abou that. thanks! ~ Maggie

I'd rather go to Mexico and just get the sleeve.  It's hard enough to eat food at first without the band.   Don't forget it's the same surgery to remove it.  $$$$$  Wouldn't it be safer to just get the sleeve with one surgery and 10K in Mexico than have 2 surgeries just because the insurance will pay?  Your body goes through a lot during surgery.   Just my opinion....

Unforunately, going to Mexico is not an option for me.  I wi**** was. I was warned that one problem with self- pay and the surgery is if there are any side effects or problems that my insurance can attribute to the surgery they will not cover those medical bills. ~ Maggie

While the band is touted as being 'removeable' it is ever only removed if there are problems with it. I can totally see where you are coming from though, and $2k to get the band and sleeve is a lot cheaper than $10k for the sleeve in Mexico. I would really be concerned about having both at once though. Definitely ask your surgeon how many he has done like this, and what the increased risks of complications are, short and long term.  As you would not have any fill in the band, there might not be any restriction from it so there might not be any issue with added restriction...but I would think that with having the sleeve the band might be able to slip down over the new stomach. Then who would pay for re-operation if there are any problems with the band?  Should the insurance pay, if the sleeve has caused slippage of the band?  Who would pay for the band removal (if you chose that), I doubt the insurance company would. On the other hand, if it works well, long term you would always have the option of putting fills in to the band if your weight loss was not enough with the sleeve (can't imagine that though unless you have a very hgih bmi).  I'm not sure all the risks of the band would be worth taking though.

You bring up a lot of good questions that I need to ask So far, I have only had the chance to go to a large group info session but I hope to get an appt very soon.  The slipping down over the smaller stomach pouch is defintely a concern of mine. ~ Maggie

Hi,

I just had a revision from lapband to sleeve after having the band for five years. The band did a lot of damage to my stomach and liver and although it is reversible, I dont know if I would want a medical device in my stomach that I wasnt using. I dont know how that affects your virgin stomach. Do they band first , then cut out the excess stomach or the other way around??

Yikes, I would think long and hard about that....

Babs