Sleeve and Lap Band -anyone done this?

This Doc is known to do this!  I know that it is hard to believe.  I didn't understand it myself.  There is a woman on the DS board who was VSG, DS, banded in the same procedure.  She said he did it as an insurance policy.  If I am not mistaken, she also had an old VBG.  She calls herself a compulsive overeater (me too but dang!).  She was also SDuperMO and now weighs in the mid 100's.   I'd say this is a pretty ambitious/narcississtic doc?   Our stomachs get pretty screwed up with the Bands.  So many people have this impression that Band removal is like removing a hair barrett.  There is an incredible amount of disecting involved (it is the most time consuming in a  band to whatever revision).  I can't imagine putting a Band on a new sleeve and the type of scar tissue formation.

I had the sleeve with the lap-band.  I'm quite excited about it - if I don't lose enough weight, or in a few years gain weight, then all we have to do is fill the band and voila!  So, I will never have to worry about weight gain. I just met with my doctor for my 3 month post op and everything looks great.  Also, $25K sounds very expensive to me.   I was a self pay and didn't pay nearly that much (the lap-band is more expensive than the sleeve).   Make sure you find a reputable doctor who has done plenty of these procedures.  Mine is the best (I think!!)

Hi, this is the same surgeon that I am referring to.  I spoke to the insurance lady and she said that the surgeon fee alone is $9K. I know the hospital fee is $14K. So right there that is $23K.  Plus Anesthesia.  Can you tell me how much you paid approximately? thanks!

My fee for Dr. Elariny was around $8,000 or so.  I had my surgery at Fair Oaks and the fee was $10,000.  Anesthesia was $1200.  That was it!!!  There is also a bariatric fee of $2,000 if you wish to stay with him for a year (this includes testing, nutritionist, etc.)

Hmmm, another surgeon's office in the area told me it was a $14K fee at Fair Oaks Hospital bc I would be staying overnight. They also told me I would have to pay the $2K bariatric fee there was no option. 

Hmmmm. I haven't had surgery yet so I'm speaking from my mind and not experience. As a nurse this worries me. I know that this may have worked for some, but what is the long term results? The band has such a high failure rate and is very high maintance. It seems most bansters are happy the first few months. This makes me think the doctor is trying to get one over on the insurance company. Is this for your sake financially or for his sake to get business? The price does sound right but two procedures may not be best for your health. The band can lead to future surgery and stomach damage. I feel for you. This is a very hard decision. If this was the only way to afford WLS, I just might do it, but I would try for the $10000 in Mexico first. Maybe do this as a last resort. Check out the complication board. Lots of Bansters, very few sleevers.

That seems like alot of stuff to have at once. I would chose one or the other. People have been successful with both. Lokk at everyone here. They are al doing great.  I dont think you need both but that is my opinoin. And I an not a veteran or even a newbie. Just a a reasearcher still. I still have not picked a Dr.

 Just having a band in your stomach can cause problems even if it is not filled.  It is a foriegn object and some people are very sensitive to this being wrapped around their tender insides.  I had a band and I was always aware that it was there.   Depending on where the port is located, it can cause your body to ache, especially around the rib cage. Your ins. would not cover the removal unless there were problems with the band.  This is impossible to predict.    It is a hard decision because it sounds mighty tempting since ins. coverage is very important for aftercare and convenience. Keep seeking out people who have both, especially for more than a year or so.

I have a variation of this a sleeve and a permanent mesh band, and I am very glad, becasue there is no danger of slippage and it provides the additional restriction of a procedure like and RNY without the risks. Total estimated weight loss is also higher than the band alone, which is roughly 55%, wheras the combo procedure is about 85% or excess weight loss. To my knowledge, Elariny and Chan are the only ones doing this, they pioneered the procedure.

Elariny is the surgeon I am referring to.  Aetna will not cover the permanent band unless I meet a medical condition. I looked at their list and I don't qualify so I would have to do the Lap Band.   Can you feel the mesh band at all? thanks! ~ Maggie