What happens after a year?

I didn't know quite how to phrase this but here goes.  This question is for all of you lap banders who are out at least 1 year, the longer the better. When you have reached goal, what happens next?  Do you keep adding fills as the time goes on?  Or, do you release some of the fluid?  Or do you just leave it alone?  What happens to the band around your stomach or the opening where the fills are added? Hope yall understood what I'm trying to get at.  I guess I just want to know what happens down the road.  My daughter had open rny 4 years ago and she pretty much eats anything she wants, just in moderation.  I was just curious if the lap band is the same way. I am 57 yrs. old, weight 221 lbs. and have lots of co-morbidities.  I am a light weight in that I will look like death warmed over if I lose 100 lbs. so I'm thinking the lap band might just be the answer for me because you don't lose as much weight with it as you do with rny. Any feed back would be appreciated. Thanks, Peggy

My one year anniversary is fast approaching.  I have been stuck at a 45 pound loss for several months.  I was also a lightweight 219 at 53 years old.  I exercise at least 5 times a week.  Just going very slow.  I get discouraged but still glad I did the surgery. Shirley 219/174

My one-year anniversary is two weeks away and I'm really close to my goal (18 lbs).  I don't anticipate doing anything at all with my band, unless it loosens up considerably after those 18 lbs are gone and I need to "tweak" it to stay on track.  I'm actually hoping that it will loosen just a teeny bit so I can eat a little bit more and still maintain my weight, but I don't want it to get so loose that I get out of control.  But that's just the beauty of the band!  The adjustability is what's great about it.  I'm guessing it just depends on the person and what they want from it.  Everyone is different.  I'm hoping to reach a point where I only have to go in for a checkup once or twice a year.  I'm pretty confident that will happen.

Lap banders can continue to lose well after the year is up. Once you reach goal you might get a fill if you notice you're eating more or if you notice a weight gain because the fluid can evaporate out of the band. There is no reason to release the fluid.  If the fluid is released you'll probably gain back all or a portion of the weight you lost. The band remains.  The only reason to take out the band is if you either don't want it (for some odd reason) or because of medical complications like an erosion. The opening where the fills are added is an enclosed port system located under the skin -- not a gaping hole.  Doctors (or nurses) use a long needle specifically designed to access the port (it is almost identical to the one my niece has for her chemotherapy treatments in her chest area -- her's WILL be removed after she's finshed with treatment).  You can sometimes see a lump (people sometimes call it a "button" under their skin) or feel it.  Each surgeon puts the port in a different location. The lap band is a closed system so if you don't have a port in place, fluid won't remain around the band and it must be removed. Lap banders, unlike RNYrs, spend the first year learning how to eat again (if you look at RNYr posts, you'll see that they talk about being able to eat a candy bar three times a day and still lose weight -- I'm generalizing and not all say or do this) but with lap band we'd gain weight -- or at least stop losing and be able to adjust our diet accordingly.  If I could eat multiple candy bars throughout the day and still lose weight, I wouldn't change my eating habit (that's part of the reason I chose the band in the first place).  Lap banders can eat most foods (breads, potatoes and other carbs can be difficult once adequate restriction is reached). Lap banders can, and do, lose as much weight as RNYrs.  It all depends on how much excess weight you have when you start.  You and your doctors won't let yourself starve and that's true of either surgery.  With RNY you'll just lose it more quickly. I have more than 225 pounds to lose with the lap band so I definately don't consider myself a lightweight nor do I hope it will fail me. Research suggests that at five years out lap banders and RNYrs are equal in their weight loss -- or about statistically even. Lori

Hello, I am a little over a year out, I have not reached goal weight yet, mainly because I had a lot of weight lto lose. I started out at over 300 pounds so losing 100 pounds in less than a year was right on target for me and my goals and aspirations with my lap band.  I am very pleased with my results so far, I don't consider myself a slow loser nor a fast loser but a typical loser who exercises and follow the band rules most of the time. Higher BMIs tend to lose quicker than lower BMIs intially. But as I am getting closer to 200 pounds it gets harder for the weight to come off, I have to really cut back and increase exercsie if I want to keep losing at a steady pace.  Once I get to goal weight if I am still this tight, I will be removing some flud from my band, I personally don't think it is wise to keep a tight fill once you get to goal weight, I would not want that pressue of a tight fill on my esaphagus long term, this is why I want to hurry and get the weight off so I will not have to keep a tight for long. Take Care N.

I always have eaten "normal" foods - just smaller quanities.  So there is no changing here as far as amounts of foods. As far as fills, I had one in April after going 8/05 to 3/06 without any fills and maintaining.  I have lost a very little with this fill (less than ten pounds in 5 plus months).  My weight just fluctuates between 171 and 175 now. It takes most people two years to reach goal (of course, this is an AVERAGE). I am NOT at goal, maybe could be a touch tighter but I like being able to eat anything and not have anything on my "no" list because I am too tight.  I had hope to be at MY goal at two years. The success of the band, however is 60 - 70% of excess weight lost - and that being said, I guess techoncally I am SUCCESSFUL! you are a lightweight with 100 to lose (like I was) lightweights - 100 to 150 to lose 1 pound a week average first year 1/4 pound average second year (after 2 years 60-70% excess weight lost = success) Technically, I fall right in this range!!!! HTH BTW - I would get another band this afternoon if needed to!

I will be 1 year tomorrow (wow!) I have lost 110 but I started at 360. My doc says I will continue for the next 4 years. After I reach goal I will have some saline removed so I can then eat to maintain not to loose. My goal is about 180 - 220 since I like to have treats now and then. The "statistic" 50-80% of excess weight since I had about 200 excess I will loose 100-150 pounds. Now that I have lost 110 the weight comes off increadably slow. Like 2 pounds a month. Hope this helps!

I am twenty months out today.  I started at 322 lbs with a BMI just over 50.  I lost 110 lbs in the first year and the remaining 42 that got me to goal in 5.5 months.  So I lost 152 lbs in 17.5 months.  Since then I've lost a bit more and had a lower body lift.  My bmi is 26 right now. When my weight loss slowed I kicked up the exercise.  I also changed my 10 lbs per month goal to a more realistic 5 lbs per month.  I ate pretty much what I wanted within reason and moderation.  I have gone to low calorie/low fat alternatives for alot of things. Beth

WOW, Beth! I just looked at your profile. CONGRATULATIONS!!! You look wonderful!

Thanks everyone for your feed back.  I had originally ruled out the lap band.  But after hearing what you had to say, I am going to discuss this option with my surgeon, when I met him. Thanks a lot,  Peggy