Natalia’s Gastric Band to Gastric Sleeve Story

Natalia’s story

Life with the gastric band

For most of her life, Natalia, now 63, has struggled with her weight. Years ago, she had gastric band surgery and at first lost a significant amount of weight. But over time, she faced constant complications, including acid reflux, stomach cramps, limited food options, and weight regain.

Making a life-changing decision

After years of discomfort, Natalia chose to have her gastric band removed and undergo gastric sleeve surgery at 360 Sleeve.

A new chapter of relief and energy

Since then, Natalia has noticed:

• No more reflux or stomach pain
• More energy and less fatigue
• The freedom to enjoy a wider variety of foods
• Renewed confidence and weight loss

Can you relate to Natalia’s story?

If a gastric band is causing you problems, a conversion to a gastric sleeve is one of the options your surgeon can talk through with you. The topic is explained below.

Individual results vary. This is one patient’s experience, not a promise of yours: your surgeon talks you through what to expect at a free consultation.

What to know

The topic behind Natalia’s journey, in general terms: what usually matters, what your surgeon looks at and questions worth asking.

Common band problems

A gastric band is a silicone ring around the top of the stomach. Problems around the time of band surgery are uncommon, but over the years many people have trouble with it:

• Reflux and heartburn, often worse when lying down.
• Pain, cramps or vomiting after meals, and food that gets stuck.
• Only soft foods go down comfortably.
• The band slips or wears into the stomach wall, or the port leaks.
• Weight loss stalls, or weight comes back.

In a long-term study from Belgium, about 60% of people needed another operation 12 or more years after their band. For these reasons, Canadian guidelines suggest that bands no longer be offered.

How a conversion works

The surgeon removes the band and its port, frees the scar tissue around the stomach and makes a sleeve, usually through small incisions. Often this is one operation. When the stomach wall around the band is inflamed or damaged, the band may come out first and the sleeve follows a few months later. A review of studies found similar safety for both approaches when each was chosen carefully.

Removing a band on its own, without another procedure, often leads to weight coming back. Reflux matters too: a sleeve can make reflux worse for some people, so if reflux is strong, your surgeon may also discuss a gastric bypass.

Age and timing

Age on its own does not decide. What matters is your overall health, your heart and lungs, your medicines and how your stomach looks around the band. Your surgeon may ask for a scope or imaging before recommending a plan. A conversion is more complex than a first sleeve, so it is planned with extra care.

Questions to ask

• Can my band be removed and the sleeve made in the same operation?
• What do my records and tests show about the band and my stomach?
• How will my reflux be checked before and after surgery?
• Is a sleeve or a bypass the better fit for me, and why?
• What does aftercare look like after a conversion?