BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding is a popular bariatric operation. Unfortunately, long-term complications such as slippage, infection, and intragastric migration (erosion) may occur. With erosion, band removal is mandatory. Options to prevent weight regain are delayed implantation of a new band, or conversion to another bariatric procedure such as Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) or biliopancreatic diversion. We present our experience with band erosion and immediate or delayed conversion to RYGBP. METHODS: With a multidisciplinary team approach and prospective data collection, a comparison was made between patients with and without band erosion. The patients who were converted to RYGBP for band erosion were analyzed. RESULTS: Gastric banding was performed on 347 patients between 1995 and 2002. Median follow-up is 52 months. Band erosion developed in 24 patients (6.8 %).The latter were heavier before gastric banding (BMI 45.9 vs 43.3, P <0,01). No band had ever been overinflated. Band erosion was diagnosed after a mean of 22.5 months (3-51). At time of diagnosis, mean BMI of 33.5 kg/m(2) (22.5-48) and average excess weight loss (EWL) of 52.9% (25-97) did not differ from that of the remaining patients at the respective time interval. The band was removed in all cases. Conversion to RYGBP was performed at the same time in 11, and a few months later in 2 patients. Operative morbidity included 1 leak (reoperation) and 4 wound infections. All but 1 patient lost further weight after reoperation, or at least maintained their weight. At last follow-up, mean EWL in relation to the pre-banding weight was 65.1%, and 69.2% of the patients had an EWL >50%, which compares favorably with the results obtained after primary RYGBP. CONCLUSIONS: In our series with a median follow-up >4 years, band erosion was more common than usually reported. Band removal with immediate or delayed conversion to RYGBP is feasible with an acceptable morbidity, and prevents weight regain in most cases. These results support further use of this approach for band erosion.