I'm curious to find out what other lap-banders have experienced regarding erosion.  My lap-band was placed in 2007 and I dropped 70 pounds in the first 6 months, but not an ounce more.  A couple of years later I moved back to my home state of Illinois.  In 2012 I sought out the sole bariatric surgeon in town to get a fill (hadn't had one since 2009, and had a total of 6.5 cc's in my 10 cc band).  The doc said he was able to put in 7.5 cc's when he only should have had room for 2.5.  He ended up removing all the fluid and sent me for a barium x-ray.  He said that I had a slip and then refused to treat me further because he did not do my original surgery (pretty common response). 

Fast forward 3 years to 2015 (after moving to a bigger city) when I sought another bariatric surgeon to remove my band -- after all, it hadn't had any fluid (i.e., no restriction) for 3 years.  After 2 more barium x-rays, 3 endoscopies, and a swallow study, he determined that my band was eroded into my stomach and needed to come out.  The removal was done in October 2015.  After surgery, my doc said that the band was 80% inside my stomach and that massive scar tissue had formed over the outside of my stomach encasing the band.  On August 9, 2016 I had RNY surgery (essentially a revision) - he wouldn't do the revision when he removed the band in order to let my stomach heal. 

Prior to - and after having lap-band surgery, I don't recall being aware that erosion was possible - but I have a lousy memory.  I'm curious how common this happens and to find out what others have experienced.  I appreciate the input. 

That is an excellent plan. 

No you are not a failure.  This is a hard surgery to lose weight.  The band helps me but I do most of the work. 

I can't tell you how to eat.  I am sure your surgeon had a diet plan for you.  When you go in for your fill ask him for the info again.  Just say it's been 3 years and you have been off the wagon and want to try again.  No doctor in his right mind would object. 

Now I can tell you what I did.  I got my 7+ years.  I have lost about 190 lbs and maintained.  I have always eaten 3 meals a day.  To me (and this is just me).  The band works for volume if you eat small meals you won't feel satisfied.  You need to get rid of the junk food, the sweets, the fast food, the carbs (this includes white bread, pasta) and soda.  Now I was told no liquid calories, because they just flow through your band.  So no coffee with cream or sugar, no soda, no juice, no smoothies.  I also avoid artificial sweeteners so no diet soda.  I do all my cooking.  I do not use box or canned convenience items.  They are loaded with chemicals, artificial flavors and colorings and preservatives...that have been known to cause weight gain.  So I am done listing what I don't eat. 

What I eat is lots of protein...chicken, turkey, salmon, halibut, beef.  I eat lots of salads.  I make meals out of my salads.  Such as taco salad or buffalo chicken salad.  I have my husband throw a couple Italian turkey sausages on the grill and have a side salad.  I eat a lot of salad.  I have replaced the salad with my side item which always used to be mashed potatoes or corn (something full of carbs).  I even have a burger.  But I will have a turkey burger and have it without the top bun.  There are always ways to rework your old favorites.  I have meatloaf now...but it's turkey loaf.  I don't feel deprived.  I don't really miss pasta.  Once in awhile we will go out for Italian food.  But I have pretty much cut out pasta and most bread.  My meals are protein. 

For breakfast it depends sometimes I have a banana.  Yes I know there is carbs...but I am not trying to lose weight.  You should have an egg or greek yogurt.  Those are my other choices.  

I love almonds and there are so many flavors.  So I always have them as a snack.  I'm in luck because they are a healthy fat and have protein.  But I limit myself to half a serving because they are high in calories.    

For lunch.  Now you can bring in some leftovers from your healthy dinner the night before.  I never do that.  You can do lunch meat rolled up with cheese.  I always have cottage cheese and carrots.  I like it.  I also do the individual cottage cheeses they have out there.  Unless you're going to pre-measure it's a good idea.  It's very easy to scoop out more than 1/2 cup. 

Now on to sweets.  When you are trying to lose weight you almost never eat sweets.  Well because you have to stay under 1000 or so calories and it's hard to do that and eat sweets.  Now I did have a cheat day once in awhile.  When I say cheat day I mean I would add peanut butter to my banana or have some dark chocolate.  I will tell you this... on my birthday I had cake and cookies on Christmas and a glass of wine on New Years...I still lost weight.  So I did go wayyyy off the diet I am not perfect. 

Next thing I did that was important.  I am active.  I got a gym membership and use it.  When I was actively losing weight I went 6 days a week.  now 3-4 days.  I go biking.  I garden...I go out and enjoy my life.  I didn't just sit around watching TV. If I did watch TV...during the commercials I got up and jogged in place.  Did stretches and had hand weights I would do while I watched my show.  You can work up a sweat jus****ching TV, believe me.  LOL

It took me 2 years but I went from 360lbs to 170lbs.  I now waiver around in the 170's.  If I see myself going anywhere near 180...I buckle down and eat less and do more.  It works.

Good luck.    

Have you ever tried just a strict low carb eating plan like there are so many of now? I have found that is the only way of eating that keeps the weight off and I can eat almost as much as I want to. I only eat about 20-30 carbs a day when I'm following that type of eating, I'm extremely carb sensitive, as are most over weight people. I can pretty much eat as much protein and veggie as I want and that fills me up. I had to re learn a whole new different way to eat but it has gotten me to goal and maintaining without much work at all. I'm also handicapped so no exercise at all while losing weight. You might want to try since you only have the 70 lbs to lose. Once I got to goal I was so used to eating this way that I didn't change much when I got there. I can have some extra once in awhile but don't often even desire something different from my normal foods. 

The surgeon does not "deflate the port." The port is just the access point and cannot be inflated or deflated.

There quite often IS need for removal. Simply removing saline from the band is not enough to prevent irreversible damage for many people. The band can erode into the stomach, slip, cause damage to the Vagus nerve system... there are myriad reasons why the band requires removal.