What is the success rate on removing a lap band and having a gastric sleeve?

Removing a gastric band and converting to a sleeve gastrectomy is a fairly common revisional procedure. In most experienced bariatric centers, the success rate is high, both in terms of safety and in helping patients achieve meaningful weight loss. However, it is important to understand that revisional surgery is technically more complex than a first-time sleeve. Scar tissue from the band, inflammation around the stomach, and the condition of the esophagus can all affect how the surgery is performed.
Some surgeons perform this as a single-stage operation—removing the band and creating the sleeve at the same time—while others prefer a two-stage approach if there is significant scarring or stomach irritation, removing the band first and performing the sleeve after several months. Both approaches can be safe, and the choice depends on your anatomy and your surgeon’s judgment.
In terms of outcomes, most patients lose weight effectively after conversion to a sleeve, though the results may not be quite as dramatic as in patients who had a sleeve as their primary operation. The risk of complications, such as leaks or reflux, is slightly higher than in first-time surgery, which is why it is especially important to choose a surgeon experienced in revisional bariatric procedures.
Overall, the success rate is very good when performed by a qualified bariatric team, and many patients are able to restart their weight loss journey successfully after band-to-sleeve conversion.

hello. interesting question, the results are excellent in weight loss when you do a conversion from the gastric band to sleeve gastrectomy or  sleeve gastrectomy to gastric bypass  but the risk of complication  are higher that in primary bariatric  surgery.

Removal of a LapBAND is a fairly easy procedure.  Conversion to another operation is not.  The complication rate with conversion to sleeve gastrectomy is significantly higher than doing a sleeve gastrectomy on a previously un-operated stomach.  Some surgeons recommend staging the procedure; removing the Band at one operation, then coming back some months later for the sleeve gastrectomy.Many surgeons, myself included, do the whole thing in one procedure.  It isn't that much more difficult, and it saves the patient from having to undergo two separate expensive operations, not to mention the recovery time for the two procedures.Studies have been published documenting the validity of both approaches, so it is up to your surgeon to choose for you based on his/her experience.