I am in the begining stages of rsearching WLS options and I read on another forum where the LB can be taken out at any time. So my questions is - is this true? I hae not spoken with a doctor yet to ask my questions but I am curious about this. I don't want to have a LB forever. It is a good option to lose the weight but I would like to eventually have it removed if possible.
Yes, it can be removed (in fact, for many, it HAS to be removed because of complications like slipping, erosion, etc.). However, removal is sometimes further complicated by adhesions (scar tissue) or damage the band may have caused to the stomach and/or esophagus, so it's not something to take very lightly.
Why would you not want to have your surgery be permanent? Many band patients have a hard time maintaining the weight loss even without removing the band.
hi wannalose - here's the deal. there's no denying that we had surgery so that we could finally lose the weight, but the REAL deal is that it also offers the best chance of us KEEPING THE WEIGHT OFF. (If you check out the MAINTAINERS forum, you'll see that there are discussions there that emphasize that maintaining looks a lot like losing.)
In that case, you'll have to think long and hard about whether you want to stop doing something that's working for you.
Most surgeons do not want to remove unless there are complications and it has to be removed. It should be considered permanent, not a temporary thing, even though it CAN be removed.
i recently read somewhere (maybe one of these forum sites) that the band was meant to be removed eventually "after the person changed their habits" ?? it was the first time i had ever seen it. i don't know why a person would just choose to have it removed if there were no problems, etc. there's usually more going on in people's bodies than just "their habits." take the band out and go back to the same old same old.
I only know of one person having her band removed due to complications but I really wonder if it was the band or the surgeon. Nor have I heard that once you lose weight you have it removed...hmmm strange indeed.
No matter what surgery you choose, its going to be a life time of dieting and exercising... surgery is a tool, not a cure. Good luck with your choice.
Can the LB be reversed
Leenie
