Why did you get the LAP-BAND and not the sleeve or gastric bypass?

[WrenBird 11]

I think with anything, you'll maybe do fine at first without exercise. But exercise is really the difference between a good and a spectacular result and anyway, you exercise for reasons other than weight loss too. But many people DO suffer from various problems that prevent a lot of weight bearing exercise and for them, they might get better results with a sleeve or bypass.

Anyhow, I got a band because that's pretty much the most common surgery here in Australia, I was borderline at a BMI of 36 anyway and I dont think I'd have been able to talk my way into a bypass, nor did I want to do something that "drastic".

The adjustability of the band, hmmmmmm. Its a plus, but its a double edged sword, I have to unfill next week for a surgery and really really really dont want to. I'm absolutely terrified. I find myself wishing I'd be sleeved so that I couldnt be told to do something like this!

Now that I have a band and have lost weight, I dont really want that "out". I wouldnt care now if my insides had been rerouted, because being a healthy normal weight would be worth that to me - in hindsight. I didnt feel like that pre band -when even banding seemed like a crazy and extreme measure which took me a lot of courage to go through with.

Good luck with your surgery <3

[Melissannde 41]

I chose the band because

1) I had not heard of the sleeve at the time I was making my choice

2) I've had cancer and did not want a surgery that caused malabsorption.

I've been very lucky that surgery was probably the cure for my cancer, but if it should come back, or if I develop a different cancer, I'll be able to tolerate chemo/rads much better with an intact gut.

I know of a woman who ended up with "short gut syndrome" from the aftereffects of radiation.. and her life was miserable (her words not mine). Not saying that bypass would lead to that .. but it's something I thought about when choosing surgeries.

My surgeon says that bypass IS reversable, just a rather difficult surgery.

Exercise not only helps with weight loss.. it also tones the muscles. Toned looks better than flabby any day of the week.

[Donnamfred 0]

I chose the Band because I didn't like the idea of having my insides rerouted.

I thought about the sleeve, but my insurace wouldn't pay for it, unless I let the military Doctors do it. No Thank You! But, then I also talked to a friend and

she got the sleeve in May, her Mom got the Band in May. She says she really wishes she had done the Band instead of the Sleeve. She said she can really see how she can mess things up if she doesn't watch it. I guess she can eat just about anything she wants, and there is the chance of stretching her stomach back out. That was all I needed to hear, and so chose the Band!

[RGVT78 5]

I chose the band because, like a few others said, I didn't want my insides re-routed, have the malabsorption and malnutrition issues either, so right away, RNY wasn't even an option. Also didn't want to have to worry about leaks along the suture line with the sleeve. I was self pay, and the surgeon I chose did the band, and the sleeve for 12,500 inclusive for either.

It was the reversibility of the band, and the possibility for pregnancy that sealed the deal for me. My DH and I tried for 5 years to get pregnant, with no luck due to my size, and the PCOS that came with it. I want to be healthier, and loose the weight so that I can have kids. ...and that's my 2 cents as to why I chose the band.