i know several who have had it, some at work, one a friend. some had had the band, some had the total surgery. i can tell you that of like 10 people, half lost a lot and half stayed the same (both with the band and with the total surgery). it seems like the total surgery ones can keep eating a lot and stretch the stomach out again. one with the band who did not lose did not have band made smaller. one person told me “it’s a start but you still have to keep up the work of not eating and excercising.” good luck and let us know how you do.