My band was not removed for anything wrong (slippage, erosin, etc.) It was just too tight, I literally could not get water down it by the end. I lost my hair (from malnutrition) and was getting IV's just to get out of bed, constant throwing up of the dreaded "coffee grounds" of stomach acid, trips to the emergery room, etc. Dr. Ortiz had no option but to remove it. But after 8 months of starvation and malnutrition my body responded to solid foods with a vengence and the weight came back on almost immediately. Emotionally I am at my bottom, I failed at dieting, I failed at the lapband, I gained the weight back, My family and friends don't understand, I am a failure. Now I am out the money for the two surgeries, the time lost at work (lots of sick time), my self esteem and am right back where I started - FAT!