cathy, i too had a big incision when they took my gallbladder out - the surgeon said he had problems inflating my stomach to do the keyhole surgery, even though back then i was only about 154 lbs! i think he was just lazy, to be totally honest. don't they use keyhole surgery to do the lapband? i am twice the size i was back then!
thanks for all your replies - i am sure i have many more questions to come. i'm really happy to have found this board